KATHMANDU, APRIL 22

The Australian Education Consultants Alliance (AECA) Inc, umbrella organisation of educational consultants based in Australia, has expressed concern over the rumours of Australia closing its border to international students for years to come owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to AECA, the rumours are baseless and have brought doubts and dilemma among the students (and parents) who are planning to pursue their further studies in Australia.

Issuing a press statement, AECA states that the central government of Australia has only closed down the Australian border till Jun 17, 2021, and no further official decision has been made by the Australian government regarding the extension of the same.

The statements further claimed that various Australian states including New South Wales and Victoria have been requesting the central government to allow the entry of international students while following the health policies.

However, some Nepali media have been publishing baseless news of Australia closing its border to international students till 2024, claimed the statement.

According to AECA, some media had taken the news published in an Australian news portal 7news on April 13 which reported the claims of experts that it will take until 2024 for Australia to return to a normal lifestyle, and used it out of context and created misinformation and rumours that has affected the students and parents.

Australia has been trying to bring life in the country to normalcy and will soon allow international flights, AECA claimed.