Chile: a grand location for Bangladeshi students to pursue higher education.

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 Chile 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 Chile 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 Chilean education as well as economy is raising higher and higher. In fact, Chilean per capita remains the highest in this continent. Chilean infrastructure has reached the topmost in the region. The country is geographically reachable very easily. She has a nice weather. According to international experts, Chile offers flexible opportunities for business and trade. Furthermore, foreigners can be legally settled in Chile. The country is well connected by all major airlines. The fame of Chilean education has extended worldwide. Chile has a very low crime rate. Chile does not have a history of terrorism. People are amiable and helpful to foreigners. National strategy has made the country a secured and wired 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 .Thay have to prepare their huge home works at their houses. Sometimes they have to work whole night. Beacuse there is not all-in-class system.This system has made them industrious. Another factor that has made them hand worker 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.

The students of Bangladesh have proved their worth globally in all sectores. They are flexible, sincere, modest, sensitive and patriotic. They love sports and games . They are crazy for them own culture. About all, they have big potentials.

Barriers to study in Chile: The most critical factor that blocks the possiblity of pursuing higher study in Chile for Bangladeshi students is the tightened visa policy at Chile Consulate in New Delhi, India. In Dhaka , the capital of Bangladesh , there is simply a honorory consulate which cannot provide any consular service. 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 Chile 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 ad well as from Chile consulate. So, for legalization purpose they have to travel to India. Really this is a boring 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 more money than admission and visa cost. 

The third problem is that in Chile 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 Chilean authority both Ministry of Education and Ministry of External Affairs (immigration) pay attention to this issue, they may assist uncountable Bangladeshi students pursue their higher education in Chile as well as can prove that " Chile: aquí tu futuro comienza" (Chile: here your future initiates).

Amar Chand Nath
Iquique, Chile.
E-mail:  lamithila@gmail.com

Also read:     How to Learn a Foreign Language ?