Year 12 qualifications from Punjab, India are no longer being recognised by the Department of Immigration & Border Protection

According to an article published in the ‘Times of India’ a rejection letter was received by an Indian student who had made an application for a Vocational Education and Training Sector subclass 572 visa. The Department’s refusal letter outlined that ‘education and examinations conducted through the Punjab School Education Board are not listed as equivalent to an Australian Grade 12 qualification under the ‘Australian Education International – National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition Guidelines (AEI-NOOSR).

Indian students, and the Punjab Education Minister are outraged that the Department of Immigration & Border Protection does not recognise Year 12 in Punjab an equivalent to the Year 12 of Australia.

Further to the article published in the ‘Times of India’ the Punjab Education Minister, Mr Daljit Singh Cheema told the newspaper that ‘the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) is one of the best boards in the country. To date, thousands of students who have successfully passed from PSEB are studying in different parts of the world and are excelling in their respective fiels. The board is strictly following the National Curriculum Framework – 2005 and is a member of the Council of Board of Secondary Education (COBSE).

Mr Cheema also said that any student facing difficulties in obtaining recognition of their PSEB studies when applying for an overeas visa should notify the PSEB as soon as possible so the matter could be further investigated as soon as possible.

Indian international student’s contribute massively to the Australian Education Industry and it is a ‘slap in the face’ to not be acknowledging student’s year 12 qualifications obtained in Punjab. Furthermore The Punjab region holds one of the highest levels of wealth in India through their booming and successful agricultural industry.