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SINGAPORE – Some Singaporean students studying in Australia, and those planning to continue their studies there next year, are filled with concern following the announcement on Friday (November 13) that foreign students will not be able to return to Australia in an attempt to slow down the spread of Covid-19.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the move is to prioritize thousands of Australians trapped abroad to return as there are not enough quarantine facilities.
Australia has limited the number of local residents who are allowed to return home each week to minimize the risk of spreading Covid-19.
Morrison’s announcement comes after Canberra began rehearsals earlier this year to graduate the return of foreign students in 2021.
23-year-old dental student Ryan Chan, who received the news on Friday (November 13) with disappointment, has been looking forward to his reunion with his family in Singapore, whom he has not seen in over nine months, but now has to put your trip. hold again.
Chan, who recently completed his third year of dental school at the University of Western Australia, said he misses his family very much, but is scared to fly home for the holidays not knowing if he could return to Australia in January.
“I Skype with my family quite regularly, but I really miss spending time with them as I live alone in a student apartment here. I also miss Singapore food, especially the hokkien mee on Beach Road,” he said.
Chan, who is currently working as a waiter in a restaurant, will begin his graduate studies next year as part of a six-year dental program.
“I have to be in school because I will take care of the patients and follow up on their needs. We will also do lab work for a few hours a day, like learning to make dentures or practicing scraping and polishing.” he said.
At the earliest, Mr. Chan estimates that he will be able to see his family in July or August next year during a semester break, after more than a year apart.
Meanwhile, Singaporeans who have accepted offers to study at Australian universities worry that they will not be able to travel there when next year begins.
Ms. Tricia Koh, 21, who is studying occupational therapy at the University of Queensland in mid-February of next year, has paid a $ 10,000 deposit to stay on campus for the semester.
“The university will not return the deposit, but it will allow me to use the funds to house myself in the second semester in case I cannot travel to Australia in February,” he said.
Ms. Koh said she was looking forward to making new friends during orientation and getting to know the campus, and attending classes in person.
“There is nothing better than going to school in person and I want to make the most of my education as school fees are not cheap. My course also includes lab work, so if my first semester is online, all lab classes will carry over to Semester 2 and that would be very overwhelming, “he said.
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