It has been the norm for people around the world to leave their environment and step out
for higher studies. That is the case in Goa too. It is not unusual for parents
to send their children to other states or even other countries for higher
education. But these are strange times. The Covid virus is still running around
causing much grief. Have parents decided to hold back on sending their children
out or they feel their children have to perhaps manage themselves well and
learn and keep themselves safe.
Saloni Menon is studying dentistry in
Mangalore. A second year student said her parents were certainly scared and
were wondering what needed to be done. They were clear the course had to be
completed. She said “I cannot learn online, it requires my physical presence. I
could not stay away also because I come under the health category which is
considered essential services, so that excuse would not hold. Yes, my parents
were scared but they were clear I had to complete my course. We are following
all the sops , so it is not a problem.”
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Priya Gupta said she was sending her daughter to Bengaluru after
her tenth standard results were out. She said “She will start her 11th standard
outside, it is important for her because it will mean more exposure for her. It
will make her more confident and help handle situations that she will face
later in life”. The pandemic she felt would pass in time and as long as people
followed the sops it would not be a problem.
Sonya Angle felt it was a little too early to ask the question
since her son had just gone to the 11th standard and perhaps in two years the
pandemic would have subsided. Pankaj Pai Kakode said he had already organized
the admission of his son to a college in the Netherlands. His son would be
studying computing science. It was he said already pre decided even before he
had gone into the 12 standard. He said in the worst case situation, he would
have waited out for a year and then gone on to study in the Netherlands.
Reshna Panandikar said it was a little too early to think of
sending her son abroad but plans were already in place. She said her son would
complete his graduation in India but his Masters would be done either in an
educational institute in the USA or Germany. She felt in four years by then the
virus would be under control.
However Adrian Gomes said he had no option but to keep his
daughter back in Goa because of the virus. He said “My daughter had interviewed
for a spot at Christ College but did not make it. I have four options i.e.
Bengaluru, Pune, Poland or Belgium. She is interested in Psychology, Mass
communications with English literature. However once you get into a college in
Goa it will make sense to graduate and then go out for higher studies. It will
all depend on her interests. In Goa I would like her to study at St Xaviers
because it is certainly the best college in Goa. I am waiting for the results,
I am keeping my fingers crossed.”
Tanuj Atre, another businessman based in the state said he was
keen on sending his son to Germany but now with the situation not having
improved, it would make sense to keep him back in Goa. He said “My son is keen
on making a career in the world of Computer Information technology and wanted
to study there. But now with the situation still bad, perhaps it would make
sense to hold back for a year. His mother is also not very keen on sending him
out in this situation. Perhaps an institute in India and then perhaps go out
for further specialisation. This virus has certainly spoiled everyone’s plans.”
Lives
have certainly been turned upside down due to this virus and one can only hope
the situation improves fast.
