Jalandhar: Leaving students stranded in uncertainty, Canada’s Northern College, Scarborough campus, has taken an unexpected decision that has caught numerous Indian students off guard, particularly those from Punjab.
Just weeks before the eagerly awaited September session, the college blindsided students by abruptly scrapping admissions, plunging them into uncertainty. Many of these students had already poured resources into securing accommodations, purchasing airfare, and getting ready for their imminent voyage to Canada. The reason for this unprecedented step was attributed to an overwhelming surge in applications received by the institution.
According to Nikhil Sharma who handles Canada student visa cases at Journey Onward, an immigration firm in the region, the college had taken a gamble by issuing more offer letters than their available seating capacity, under the presumption that not all applicants would successfully secure embassy clearance and visas. However, this time around, the rejection rate turned out to be significantly lower than expected, forcing the college’s hand in retracting the admissions offers.
In an attempt to rectify the situation, the college has offered a 100% refund of fees to affected students. Additionally, they’ve extended the option for students to obtain offer letters from other educational institutions, allowing them to potentially transfer their fees to a different institute.
Gurjot Singh, a student from Nawashaher who had applied for a two-year business diploma at Northern College, recounted his preparations, including securing a non-refundable ticket worth Rs 1.12 lakh for an August 29 departure. However, the eleventh-hour decision from the college left him and others stunned. An email notification informed him about the unavailability of seats at the college.
Beyond its direct impact on students, the cancellation of admissions has ignited concerns within the Sikh community in Canada. Various advocacy groups, including the World Sikh Organisation of Canada, have voiced their opposition to the college’s action and are calling for a reconsideration of the decision.
Parents of the affected students have also spotlighted the logistical and financial hardships they’re now grappling with. The fallout from this abrupt decision has undoubtedly sent ripples of uncertainty and frustration throughout the affected community.
Such an abrupt and unforeseen disruption has left not only the students but also their parents grappling with the sudden logistical and financial challenges,” expressed
Sukhdev Singh, a parent, highlighting the distress caused by the unexpected decision of Canada’s Northern College, Scarborough campus.
