Education
Foreign students petition UK PM to retract ‘unjust’ visa revocation order
Foreign students deliver a petition to the British PM Rishi Sunak, requesting the revocation of an “unjust” visa revocation order. The order was issued in response to a decade-old English test scandal undercovered by BBC.
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It was reported on Wednesday (22 Mar) that a group of foreign students, many of whom were from India, have delivered a petition to British PM Rishi Sunak asking him to retract an “unjust” visa revocation order, requiring the students to leave the UK.
The petition was delivered to 10 Downing Street on Monday (20 Mar).
The order to revoke their visa came following an English test scandal which erupted about a decade ago. The issue dates back to 2014 when a BBC ‘Panorama’ investigation showed that cheating had occurred at two of the UK’s testing centres for the compulsory English language test required for securing their student visas.
At the time, the UK government responded by a widespread crackdown on such centres, revoking tens of thousands of students’ visas linked with those centres.
“This is one of the biggest scandals in contemporary British history. The initial government reaction was unjust and has been allowed to drag on for years,” said Nazek Ramadan who is the director of Migrant Voice, an NGO representing the students.
“It could have been resolved by a simple solution, such as allowing the tests to be retaken. The students came here to get a world-class education and the best student experience in the world, but instead their lives have been wrecked. It is time for the government to step in and end this nightmare. All it takes to bring this to an end is leadership.”
More than 2,400 students have been deported and thousands returned home voluntarily as they have no right to stay, work or appeal. But some continued to stay on hoping to “clear their names” through legal means.
Migrant Voice said it’s important for Sunal to address “the injustice at a time when numbers of students and migrant workers form part of UK-India trade negotiations”.
Migrant Voice has been running the #MyFutureBack campaign for the affected students for years, trying to get them to stay in the UK.
Massive exam frauds uncovered by BBC
In 2014, BBC followed a tip-off that bogus students who spoke virtually no English were being offered “guaranteed” Toeic (English) exam passes at two London test centres.
An undercover journalist secretly filmed an exam in East London where test centre staff provided every candidate with a paid cheat, or proxy, who spoke good English. The tests were then uploaded to international testing organisation ETS in the United States for marking.
After discovering evidence of student cheating, the government tasked ETS with assessing the extent of the problem in over 100 independent test centres.
During the investigation, the findings were startling: 97% of 58,000 Toeics taken in the UK between 2011 and 2014 were judged suspicious – 33,663 were invalid and 22,476 questionable. It would probably be considered the largest exam cheat in British history.
Lord Willetts, universities minister in 2014, said although the 97% figure was “implausibly high”, officials believed them. “The Home Office assumed this whole thing was totally abused and corrupt, and so they didn’t get into the details,” he said. That is to say, some believe that not all the students cheated.
The names of individuals with invalid tests were shared by ETS with the Home Office, which subsequently revoked their visas, some of whom were innocent.
In 2017, individuals in Toeic cases were granted the right to appeal in the UK.
In 2016, two years after the deportations began, ETS began providing alleged cheaters with their test recordings.
The case involving Shakil Rathore, a 50-year-old civil engineer, has raised concerns about how many people may have been wrongfully accused of cheating on their UK visa English tests.
After struggling for three years to obtain his test recording, Mr Rathore was able to prove his innocence when it revealed his distinct stutter.
However, most people who received test recordings found they did not contain their voice, and digital forensics expert Professor Peter Sommer noted that the voice files were not verifiable.
Many individuals waited years for their appeals to be heard, during which time they faced visa revocation and deportation.
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Community
Ex-NTU Exco member withdraws from SU Presidential race, issues apology for intoxicating junior incident
Ethan Ong, a former NTUSU Executive Committee member who served a 5-week suspension last year for intoxicating a junior, has been voted out of the SU Presidential race on Sunday (24 Sep).
In response to the incident, he extended an apology to “all affected parties” and maintained that his actions stemmed from “a lack of judgment in a situation where better discretion should have prevailed,” emphasizing the absence of malicious intent.
SINGAPORE: Ethan Ong, a former member of the Executive Committee of the Nanyang Technological University Student Union (NTUSU), who faced suspended 5-week last year for Intoxicating junior, has reportedly been voted out from the SU Presidential race due to a scandal.
According to Soapbox.sg, a student-run news organization at NTU, it was noted that during the SU election held on Sunday (24 Sep), the election results at the annual rally showed 20 votes against Ethan Ong and seven in favour, with six individuals choosing to abstain.
The voting pool included representatives from various university clubs, including both academic and non-academic, as well as presidents and vice presidents.
After Ethan’s withdrawal from the race, two other student leaders stepped forward to run for the presidency.
In an interview with the Singaporean state media, The Straits Times on Monday (25 Sep), Mr Ong apologised to “all affected parties”, saying, “I sincerely regret this incident and the impact it might have on other members at the gathering.”
“However, I firmly disagree with any characterisation or actions taken online which suggest that I had any intention to deceive another individual. ”
“My actions were not motivated by any malice, but rather a lack of judgment in a situation where better discretion should have prevailed.”
NTU probes into “alcohol-related incident” from last year following recent complaint
In the meantime, NTU emphasized its commitment to treating all allegations of misconduct with utmost seriousness and confirmed that the university had received a complaint regarding an “alcohol-related incident” in September.
This incident, which occurred in October 2022, was initially reported to the student union. The complaint alleged, “that the respondent had caused the complainant to drink more alcohol than she had intended by telling her that it was water”.
NTU disclosed that it conducted interviews and obtained statements from six students who were present at the “social gathering” where the incident transpired.
“At no time during the gathering was the complainant alone with the respondent. There was no allegation or assertion by the complainant or any of the witnesses that the respondent had tried to do anything so that he could be alone with the respondent.”
NTU affirmed that support was offered to “students connected with the incident”.
In light of reports concerning this incident circulating on social media and alternative news outlets, NTU urged online users to refrain from making “speculative and unsubstantiated allegations.”
Ethan Ong faces questioning from fellow student leaders regarding the intoxication incident
In a separate development, Soapbox.sg reported that during the SU Election rally, Ethan Ong, a fourth-year student from Nanyang Business School, found himself in the spotlight as various student leaders posed questions about the intoxication incident.
When asked about his thoughts on the accusations, the 24-year-old acknowledged them but stated that he refrained from making any comments earlier to respect the due process of the university’s investigations.
“The first outcome is that I have been allowed to continue my bid for election because the school did not feel that the incident has impeded my eligibility and ability to continue serving the student body as I have done for the past few years,” he claimed.
Ethan further noted that, aside from a verbal counseling session with the university, no other disciplinary actions had been taken against him.
He expressed regret about the incident and emphasized that he had no malicious or hidden intentions.
“Moving forward, I will be more cautious of my actions and I hope that students will give me the opportunity to serve the student body this semester,” he added.
In response to a student who questioned his decision to run despite being aware of the potential harm to the union, Ethan contended that “we were able to put the incident behind us and move on from there”.
“The truth is after (the school) analyzed the facts from people present that night, the incident does not impede my ability to run for president,” he said.
“I do think I am still able to serve the student body in a very substantial and dedicated way.”
According to Soapbox, Ethan Ong recounted his version of the incident to fellow student leaders, explaining that during a gathering in his residence hall for drinking in October 2022, one of the attendees repeatedly requested drinks
“As the night progressed, there came a time when a senior leader told me to stop and just give her water,” he said.
However, he stated that his interactions with the alleged victim gave him the impression that she was still willing to consume alcohol.
“So one side was telling me to stop giving drinks but the other said she was okay to continue. I thought I would just give the drinks to both of them to appease both sides,” he added.
As the night progressed, the alleged victim eventually fell asleep but later began vomiting, according to Ethan. He mentioned that once she had sobered up, the team ensured her safe return to her residence hall.
Victim’s opposition to the perpetrator’s reinstatement echoed well before the SU election
However, according to the victim’s account, as reported by the soapbox.sg earlier, after consuming a few drinks and feeling lightheaded, she requested water. However, instead of water, the perpetrator offered her cups of alcohol.
Due to her heavy intoxication, she couldn’t recall the events of that night. Nevertheless, eyewitnesses in the room observed what was happening, and the president allegedly intervened, instructing Ethan to stop serving alcohol to her.
One of the eyewitnesses reported that the victim vomited and had to be removed from the room. She remained unconscious for six hours, with the president and chief of staff staying with her, as recounted to Soapbox.sg.
The victim only learned about the incident a week later and felt betrayed, as she had a close working relationship with the perpetrator and would not have consumed drinks from people she did not trust.
“I felt angered because I don’t normally drink in a guy’s room or with people I don’t trust,” she said. “But it was because we had that close working relationship and the fact that he was a respected senior four years older than me.”
Regarding the incident, on October 18th of the previous year, it was brought before the NTUSU disciplinary board, which decided to suspend the perpetrator for what they deemed as “overboard actions.”
The victim also earlier opposed Ethan Ong’s reinstatement months before the election season this September because she was unhappy with how NTUSU had dealt with the matter and felt he should not run.
NTUSU claims all parties involved, and affected parties sought to “move forward from the incident”
On September 22nd, NTUSU issued a statement on its Instagram page addressing the allegations circulating online.
They confirmed that they had conducted an internal investigation and suspended the perpetrator from Union duties for five weeks.
After the suspension, all parties involved, and affected parties sought to “move forward from the incident”, the statement claimed.
The statement also mentioned that the university had concluded its investigations into the matter, with no ongoing disciplinary proceedings against the perpetrator.
NTUSU rescheduled Executive Committee voting and postponed AGM
In a noteworthy turn of events, the student union has revealed that during the SU election, only 5 out of the 22 Executive Committee positions had the chance to garner support and secure votes from Council members.
The elections for the remaining positions have been rescheduled and are now slated to occur on October 1, 2023.
Because the election for the 33rd NTUSU Executive Committee remains incomplete, the Annual General Meeting will be deferred to a future date.
Community
Mastercard, Grab, and BenihBaik.com unite to empower Banten students with over US$97,000 for vital school supplies
In a heartwarming collaboration, Mastercard, Grab, and BenihBaik.com raised IDR 1.5 billion to provide essential school supplies to over 2,400 students in Banten, Indonesia.
This initiative aims to support underprivileged children on their educational journey and create a brighter future.
INDONESIA: Mastercard recently announced its successful fundraising effort, “Mastercard for the Nation’s Children,” in collaboration with Grab and BenihBaik.com, which raised a total of IDR 1.5 billion (US$97,553).
These funds will be dedicated to providing essential school supplies to over 2,400 students across 10 elementary schools in Banten, Indonesia. The distribution of these supplies will be facilitated through the BenihBaik.com fundraising platform.
During the campaign period, an impressive 70,000 Grab users activated donation vouchers to participate, resulting in nearly a quarter of a million transactions recorded from 8 July to 24 August 2023.
As part of their contribution, Mastercard pledged to donate IDR 5,000 (US$ 0.33) for every transaction made using a Mastercard debit or credit card within the Grab application.
This initiative by Mastercard, in partnership with Grab and BenihBaik.com, aims to address pressing challenges within the education sector in the Banten region.
According to data from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, approximately 1,400 students in Banten discontinued their elementary school education during the 2022/2023 school year.
Furthermore, the average duration of schooling in Banten in 2022 was only 9.13 years, prompting the Indonesian government to prioritize formal education.
This commitment is underscored by the allocation of IDR 612 trillion for education in 2023.
Aligned with the government’s objectives and its aspiration to make a positive societal impact, Mastercard, along with Grab and BenihBaik.com, is supplying school materials to support underprivileged children in Banten on their educational journey.
This initiative ensures that they have the necessary tools and resources to thrive academically, paving the way for a brighter future.
Roy Nugroho, Director of Grab For Business, Grab Indonesia, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “Grab is delighted to collaborate with Mastercard and BenihBaik.com for the ‘Mastercard for the Nation’s Children’ initiative. This endeavor aligns with our GrabForGood principle, where we strive to empower more Indonesian individuals and create a positive impact through technology.”
Andy F. Noya, CEO & Founder of BenihBaik.com, added that this program instills hope, comfort, and essential facilities for the younger generation to pursue their dreams and ultimately improve education in Indonesia.
Aileen Goh, President Director of PT Mastercard Indonesia, reiterated Mastercard’s commitment to the “Doing Well by Doing Good” philosophy, aiming to make a positive impact in local communities for a more just and prosperous world.
She extended her gratitude to Mastercard cardholders who contributed to this campaign.
Update on donation funds
On 19 September, BenihBaik shared via its Instagram account the handover ceremony of aid to one of the schools in Banten, made possible by the fundraising efforts of Mastercard Indonesia and Grab Indonesia.
The event took place at SD Negeri 1 Kronjo, one of the elementary schools in Banten, and was attended by VP Head of Account Management PT Mastercard Indonesia Wibawa Prasetyawan, Director Consumer Marketing PT Mastercard Indonesia Kenny Windandari Ruky, Director Grab for Business Roy Nugroho, Chief Partnership Officer BenihBaik Dena Rochmawaty, and SD Negeri 1 Kronjo Principal Suanda, who received the funds.
![benihbaik instagram](https://i0.wp.com/gutzy.asia/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/IMG_20230922_164636-672x1024.jpg?resize=672%2C1024&ssl=1)
from left; Roy Nugroho, Wibawa Prasetyawan, Deny Rochmawaty, Suanda (Photo: Instagram/BenihBaik)
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