Australia cracks down on education providers in wake of Indian student attacks

Melbourne, June 13 (ANI): Australia has forced a nation wide quality crackdown on education and training providers, to shore up the reputation of country's 15.5 billion dollars education export industry, after its reputation was damaged in wake of protests against attacks on Indian students.

Education Minister Julia Gillard also announced another taskforce, as it ratchets up its response to the attacks that have attracted international news coverage and sparked street protests.

The Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs in Hobart today agreed to urgently carry out targeted audits of education and training providers.

It follows Victoria's earlier move to launch a "rapid audit" of providers suspected to being in breach of regulations, The Australian reported.

The crackdown is expected to largely target those small private education providers that have been the target of complaints from students.

About two-thirds of the 97,035 Indian students in Australia last year were enrolled at private providers.

Gillard also announced the creation of a telephone hotline for students to anonymously raise concerns that will be collated and published on a website, www.studyinaustralia.gov.au. The hotline number is 1300 363 079.

"Ministers have joined together to unreservedly condemn the violent incidents and problems that international students have experienced in Australia in recent times," Gillard told reporters.

"There is no tolerance for violence, no tolerance at all for any of the things we've seen happen, particularly in Victoria and NSW, in recent days.

"We are going to do everything we can to send a message to international students that they are welcome here," she added. (ANI)