Russian medicine's bitter taste
TNN | Sep 4, 2017, 13:52 IST
But for the now Panjab University student, "it was traumatic".
When a Delhi-based educational consultancy got the young woman from Himachal Pradesh into the foreign medical school after Class XII, her dream of becoming a doctor seemed close. Only after landing overseas she came to know that most of the subjects were in the local language. "For two years, I struggled to learn Russian," she said. "From theory to practical, almost everything was in that language. I felt cheated. My studies were hampered. I didn't want to waste any more of my parents' money ."
Russia is one of the major international destinations for Indian medical students--95% of Indian students in Russia are there to study medicine and the rest are in technical courses such as aviation. Every year, almost 6,000 Indians enter the world's largest country to become doctor. Ukraine, China, and even Kyrgyzstan entice those who find the NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test) hurdle in India too hard to cross. Of Russia's more than 45 govern ment medical universities, only a handful offer the six-year general medicine course in English. A fourth-year medical student from a leading Russian university says on the condition of anonymity that she, too, was cheated by a contractor and enrolled into a university that has dual medium of instruction. "We were taught Russian in the first year.It is a tough language but we have no choice but to learn it, if we have to clear the examinations, practicals especially," says the student from Dharamsala. Almost a quarter of the Indian medical students in Russia quit midway. "Of 10 in my batch in the second year, 8 left," said another student, requesting anonymity.
Love continues
South Indians make up 70% of the desi medical students in Russia but a thousand-odd are also from the northern region--Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh especially. In the past two years, the number of Russiabound medical students from Chandigarh has increased. Dr Dinesh Singla, director of Rus Education in New Delhi says: "From 40-to-50, the figure has doubled." Despite all odds.
Educationists warn these stu dents and their parents to gather as much information as possible, and know that in most of these universities, the language of instruction is Russian and most of the professors are not conversant with English.Even the Indian embassy in Moscow has posted all the Russian educational opportunities on its website. Its education wing site. Its education win receives many complaints against contractors who make f alse promises, giving mislead ing information, cheat, and behave in a highhanded manner.
Beware of leeches
Agents and contractors wait to sell gullible Indian stu gullible Indian students the foreign medical studies. Dr Navpreet Kaur, chairman and managing director of Phoenix Educ rector of Phoenix Educational Consultancy, Chandigarh, has a word of caution. "Many agents don't tell you beforehand that half the course will be in Russian. We advise the parents and students to be well informed. The In dian embassy in Moscow is the best source of infor mation," she said.
Some agents charge students triple the fee "They lie about fee structure, and the stu dents have to believe them because the Russian universities deal only with the contractors. Even the fee goes into the contractors' account ges first," Dr Navpreet Kaur said. The Indian embassy in Moscow has posted on its website: "The publicity in India about English-medium medical courses in the Russian federation is not correct. The medium is mostly Russian. No medical books in English are available in Russia. Only in some on contractors provide cases, education contractors provide you with the same."
NEET hurdle
Students, educationists, parents, they all blame the Russian trend on the fewer seats through NEET. Of more than 11 lakh candidates who took a shot at the entrance test in 2017, 6.5 lakh qualified. "When reservation limits the scope of admission, what options do the aspiring doctors have?" says a spokesperson of Jupiter Consultants, Chandigarh.
Dr Dinesh Singla of Rus Education has similar views. "Many more Indian students (than those who qualify) deserve to study medicine. Russia provides them with quality education and infrastructure," he said. Damanpreet, a third-year medical student of Crimea Federal University, is happy studying in Russia. "I like the practical classes and hands-on experience," she says.
India test too tough
The real struggle starts when Russian-educated doctors return home and sit the Medical Council of India's (MCI) mandatory Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) for a license to practice in India. Only about 15% students from Russian, Chinese, and Ukrainian colleges are able to clear. Ludhiana educationist Teejpreet Singh says: "Easier is to set tle down and practice in Russia and China. The MCI's standards are too high for average students," he says.
Dr Avinash Jindal, president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) unit in Ludhiana, says Chinese-andRussian-qualified doctors are unable to pass the India test even on the fourth attempt. "I have reservations about the standard of education in those countries," he says. The Indian embassy in Moscow also mentions this low performance in the screening test and warns students to "keep in mind before deciding to study medicine in Russia". Just be informed.
TNN | Sep 4, 2017, 13:52 IST
Chandigarh-based education consultant Dr Navpreet Kaur (third from right) along with some of the Indian medica... Read More
By: Anindita Acharya
Inside her Russian hostel in 2016, Kan upriya (21) sat arms crossed, body shaking. Just two years of the six-year MBBS degree at Orenburg had broken the non-quitter's will. The medical university is one of the best in Russia.
By: Anindita Acharya
Inside her Russian hostel in 2016, Kan upriya (21) sat arms crossed, body shaking. Just two years of the six-year MBBS degree at Orenburg had broken the non-quitter's will. The medical university is one of the best in Russia.
But for the now Panjab University student, "it was traumatic".
When a Delhi-based educational consultancy got the young woman from Himachal Pradesh into the foreign medical school after Class XII, her dream of becoming a doctor seemed close. Only after landing overseas she came to know that most of the subjects were in the local language. "For two years, I struggled to learn Russian," she said. "From theory to practical, almost everything was in that language. I felt cheated. My studies were hampered. I didn't want to waste any more of my parents' money ."
Russia is one of the major international destinations for Indian medical students--95% of Indian students in Russia are there to study medicine and the rest are in technical courses such as aviation. Every year, almost 6,000 Indians enter the world's largest country to become doctor. Ukraine, China, and even Kyrgyzstan entice those who find the NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test) hurdle in India too hard to cross. Of Russia's more than 45 govern ment medical universities, only a handful offer the six-year general medicine course in English. A fourth-year medical student from a leading Russian university says on the condition of anonymity that she, too, was cheated by a contractor and enrolled into a university that has dual medium of instruction. "We were taught Russian in the first year.It is a tough language but we have no choice but to learn it, if we have to clear the examinations, practicals especially," says the student from Dharamsala. Almost a quarter of the Indian medical students in Russia quit midway. "Of 10 in my batch in the second year, 8 left," said another student, requesting anonymity.
Love continues
South Indians make up 70% of the desi medical students in Russia but a thousand-odd are also from the northern region--Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh especially. In the past two years, the number of Russiabound medical students from Chandigarh has increased. Dr Dinesh Singla, director of Rus Education in New Delhi says: "From 40-to-50, the figure has doubled." Despite all odds.
Educationists warn these stu dents and their parents to gather as much information as possible, and know that in most of these universities, the language of instruction is Russian and most of the professors are not conversant with English.Even the Indian embassy in Moscow has posted all the Russian educational opportunities on its website. Its education wing site. Its education win receives many complaints against contractors who make f alse promises, giving mislead ing information, cheat, and behave in a highhanded manner.
Beware of leeches
Agents and contractors wait to sell gullible Indian stu gullible Indian students the foreign medical studies. Dr Navpreet Kaur, chairman and managing director of Phoenix Educ rector of Phoenix Educational Consultancy, Chandigarh, has a word of caution. "Many agents don't tell you beforehand that half the course will be in Russian. We advise the parents and students to be well informed. The In dian embassy in Moscow is the best source of infor mation," she said.
Some agents charge students triple the fee "They lie about fee structure, and the stu dents have to believe them because the Russian universities deal only with the contractors. Even the fee goes into the contractors' account ges first," Dr Navpreet Kaur said. The Indian embassy in Moscow has posted on its website: "The publicity in India about English-medium medical courses in the Russian federation is not correct. The medium is mostly Russian. No medical books in English are available in Russia. Only in some on contractors provide cases, education contractors provide you with the same."
NEET hurdle
Students, educationists, parents, they all blame the Russian trend on the fewer seats through NEET. Of more than 11 lakh candidates who took a shot at the entrance test in 2017, 6.5 lakh qualified. "When reservation limits the scope of admission, what options do the aspiring doctors have?" says a spokesperson of Jupiter Consultants, Chandigarh.
Dr Dinesh Singla of Rus Education has similar views. "Many more Indian students (than those who qualify) deserve to study medicine. Russia provides them with quality education and infrastructure," he said. Damanpreet, a third-year medical student of Crimea Federal University, is happy studying in Russia. "I like the practical classes and hands-on experience," she says.
India test too tough
The real struggle starts when Russian-educated doctors return home and sit the Medical Council of India's (MCI) mandatory Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) for a license to practice in India. Only about 15% students from Russian, Chinese, and Ukrainian colleges are able to clear. Ludhiana educationist Teejpreet Singh says: "Easier is to set tle down and practice in Russia and China. The MCI's standards are too high for average students," he says.
Dr Avinash Jindal, president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) unit in Ludhiana, says Chinese-andRussian-qualified doctors are unable to pass the India test even on the fourth attempt. "I have reservations about the standard of education in those countries," he says. The Indian embassy in Moscow also mentions this low performance in the screening test and warns students to "keep in mind before deciding to study medicine in Russia". Just be informed.
