Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 21: All the 18 students from the district who were pursuing their MBBS degree course in Ukraine have safely returned to their homes. Their parents have heaved a sigh of relief but this is not a happy ending yet. The students are now tensed over the future of their education.

These students are admitted to various medical colleges in Ukraine. Now with the war, they have returned to their native places but are clueless as there is no information about how to continue with their practicals and academics.

Anaina Anna, a student from Derebail in the city says that her college had informed that the online classes would begin from March 15 onward. She stated that the students have now been informed that online classes will be delayed by two more weeks because of power and server problems there. Anaina is a third year MBBS student of V N Karazin Kharkiv National Medical University, Ukraine.

She says that after the third year examination, the students have to appear for the KROK examination for a medical licence. Its date has been fixed for June 20. But so far there is no concrete information about this examination, she added. "Our professors are in constant touch with us. They have assured us to start online classes during the last week of March," she narrated.

Prathviraj Bhat, a fourth year student of Zaporozhye Medical University, stated that his college will begin online classes from March 21. He stated that the teaching of the seventh semester syllabus has already been completed. "We have been told that classes will be held even during the annual holidays in July and the syllabus for the next year will be completed. But there is no information about practical classes," he confided. Bhat also said that online classes will be conducted for now, and if the situation improves, physical classes for the eighth semester will begin. "The students are closely observing the situation and we are looking forward to the decision of the central government. If the situation in Ukraine does not improve, the Indian embassy office has promised to make arrangements for students like me to continue education in countries like Hungary, Germany and Poland," he said.

Olin Maria Lasrado, mother of Claton who has returned from Ukraine, has said that students are in utter confusion. She informed that her son's online classes had begun from March 14 and that a clearer picture was likely to emerge by the end of this month.