2000 Indian Students In Limbo After 3 Canadian Colleges Shut Over Bankruptcy, HCI Issues Advisory

Around 2000 plus Indian students studying in Canada have received a major setback and are left stranded after three colleges in Quebec province shut down abruptly declaring bankruptcy. Following this, several affected students enrolled in these institutions have appealed for justice from the Canadian government, and have approached the High Commission of India (HCI) in Ottawa to address their grievances.

Canadian Colleges Shut

All the three institutions i.e. the M College in Montreal, CDE College in Sherbrooke, and CCSQ College in Longueuil, all in the Quebec province that declared themselves bankrupt are run by the Rising Phoenix International Inc., which has left several students in a lurch with no alternative and solution, having spent thousands of dollars for admissions to various courses.

The affected students are in a serious dilemma about the completion of their courses, which now stands completely disrupted and dislodged after being scammed. The affected students are demanding that the Canadian government allow them to complete their courses from other institutions as succour.

High Commission of India Advisory

The High Commission of India (HCI) in Ottawa has taken up the issue of the affected Indian students and have issued an advisory on the same to address their grievances at the earliest in cooperation with the Canadian federal government, the provincial government of Quebec province as well as with the elected Indian representatives of Canada.

"The provincial government of Quebec has advised that the affected students may directly contact the institutions where they are registered, and in the event that they find any difficulty in reimbursement of their fees or transfer of fees, they may file a complaint with Ministry of Higher Education, Government of Quebec," the High Commission of India's advisory said.

Please see our advisory for students from India affected by the closure of three colleges in Quebec, Canada.@IndiainToronto@meaMADAD @MEAIndia @EduMinOfIndia @Quebec_India pic.twitter.com/S9kwlPwqGx

— India in Canada (@HCI_Ottawa) February 18, 2022

"Please demand a certificate of recognition by the Canadian/provincial government from the institutions and verify the institution selected is included in the list of designated learning institutions published on the Government of Canada website. Students should not make any payments or reveal their personal information to any unverified person/ institution offering students visa on payment," the advisory added.

The advisory has also asked students from India in Canada, or those planning to fly to Canada for education and higher studies to do a thorough background check of the institutions credentials they are seeking admission into to avoid getting scammed and to register online with their nearest Indian mission, or post on the MADAD portal in cases of issues.