Santa Cruz city view: Image by Amar Chand Nath
Introduction: From time immemorial human beings have been roaming country to
country, continent to continent in search of wealth, peace and wisdom.
Basically, the terms 'wealth', 'peace' and 'wisdom' have their roots at
the same place. When someone is educated he is wise. When he is wise he can
gather wealth. When he is wise and wealthy, he gets peace. Now-a-days, it is
not a surprising matter for young learners travel a far-away country for
learning in order to shape their future.
In fact, The Republic of Bolivia with
her international reputation and grandeur has already grabbed the attention of
South Asian students to pursue higher education at her reputed institutions.
Among these South Asian countries, Bangladesh remains on the top of the list.
Brief
about Bangladesh: Bangladesh is a
small independent country in South Asia with her border with India from three
sides and the Bay of Bengal from one side. The country has a very big
population of more than 140 millions. Bangladesh is highly crowded specially in
the urban areas. There are lots of schools, colleges and universities. But for
higher education, the number of universities cannot provide sufficient spaces
for available students. There are both public and private universities.
Surprisingly, for public universities hundreds of qualified students compete
for single seat for admission. That means ninety nine students out of one
hundred cannot get available space for admission. Naturally, they rush to
private universities. The same thing happens at private institutions. Only
difference is that there is less competition than that of public institutions.
As a result, a huge number of students remain deprived of higher education.
Sometimes, they wait for the following year. But the problem multiplies in the
next year. Of course, many students try for moving to other countries for
pursuing higher education. The countries they normally proceed are Britain,
South Africa, United States, Russia, Malaysia and India. But it is not an easy
way to solve the problem. Because, US and UK universities follow very strict
rules for admissions and their embassies also do the same for necessary visas.
So, a very large number of qualified and solvent students both male and female
are obliged to wait for a dark future not for their personal or family
inabilities but for the National incapacity.
Another vital reason for trying to move to foreign country is
that there are job crisis, session jam and constant political unrest in
Bangladesh. So, the brighter students want to shape their future in a safe
country.
Reasons
of choosing Bolivia for higher education: Truly
speaking, Latin America is more or less an unexplored continent for Bangladeshi
students because, the continent is very far from them. One needs to cross two
oceans and African continent to reach Latin America. Further more, there is
seldom an Latin American embassy in Bangladesh. Most interestingly, the
attraction of Latin American grandeur in only television based for Bangladesh
people. But now a days, it is not an unknown fact that Bolivian education as
well as economy is raising higher and higher. In fact, Bolivian per capita is
constantly on the raise. Bolivian infrastructure is very wonderful in the
region. The country is geographically reachable very easily. She has a nice weather.
Furthermore, Bolivia offers flexible opportunities for business and trade. Foreigners
can be legally settled in this country. The country is well connected by all major
airlines. The fame of Bolivian education has extended worldwide. Bolivia has a
very low crime rate. Bolivia does not have a history of terrorism. People are
amiable and helpful to foreigners. National strategy has made the country a
secured and peaceful Nation.
Bangladeshi
students: an overview: Bangladeshi
students are labourius beacuse, the educational system has made them so. Unlike
other devloped countries Bangladesh students have to study at their home after
school hours .They have to prepare their huge home works at their houses.
Sometimes they have to work whole night. Because there is not all-in-class
system. This system has made them industrious. Another factor that has made
them hand workers is that they have to compete for admisstion test lest they
should be deprived of higher education. In Bangladesh the languages of instruction
are Bangla and English.
Barriers
to study in Bolivia: The most
critical factor that blocks the possiblity of pursuing higher study in Bolivia
for Bangladeshi students is the unavailability of any Bolivian High Commission
or Embassy or Consulate in Bangladesh. The newly established consulate of
Bolivia is in New Delhi, the capital of India. Actually New Delhi is far away
from Bangladesh. Only to meet the consulate, the students have to undergo
another critical process namely Indian visa obtainance. A young student naturally
becomes disappointed in an interview at Bolivian Consulate located at a far
away country.
Another problem is that for admission process the students are
required to legalize their academic documents from foreign ministry from their
country of origin as well as from Bolivian consulate. So, for legalization
purpose they have to travel to India. Really this is a critical process. They
can neither travel to India twice nor can wait more than one month in India.
New Delhi is fairly expensive where a student has to spend money three times
more than admission and visa cost.
The third problem is that in Bolivia there does not exist any interpretation service (English-Bangla-Spanish). So the prospective students are afraid of a new life in a Spanish spoken country.
The third problem is that in Bolivia there does not exist any interpretation service (English-Bangla-Spanish). So the prospective students are afraid of a new life in a Spanish spoken country.
Conclusion: If the Bolivian ministries mentioned above pay attention
to this issue, they may assist uncountable Bangladeshi students pursue their
higher education in Bolivia as well as can prove that " Bolivia: aquí tu
futuro comienza" (Bolivia: here your future initiates).
