Yemeni students love Goan culture

by Shaikh Jamaluddin
Posted on 2008-08-08
PANAJI - The Goa government has been trying to promote tourism through education and it has thus been encouraging admission of foreign students in different streams in professional colleges in the state.
But the sad part is that once these students come here and get admitted, the unpleasant manner in which government officials and authorities treat them leaves them high and dry. Imagine the plight of Yemeni students in particular who have got themselves admitted in different professional colleges and institutes in the state.
Yemeni students come to Goa to specifically study English. During an informal interaction they informed ‘The Navhind Times,’ “We are not terrorists or interested in terrorism as suspected by the security agencies. We feel shocked with the behaviour of the officials and vow to never return here.” They further said, “We are interested in Goa because of the unique culture of the state, its people and the English language they speak. Besides, Goa is a highly literate state.”
According to sources from colleges, these students are often humiliated and harassed by government authorities under one pretext or the other. The sources maintained that the students feel hurt and get depressed when police officials visit their flats even during the late night hours and ask embarrassing questions. Many have already left the state and more would follow soon, say the sources. Some have even vowed to make an official complaint to their embassy in this regard.
Ms Maria Dias of Manipal Institute of Computer Education which conducts classes in stenography, secretarial studies and languages informed that these students are quite smart and well-behaved.
“They never like to miss out classes on any day and if there is any holiday or if they fall sick, they feel dejected.” Another lady who conducts English classes for Yemeni students was also of the view that these students are talented and of good character. She further said that they respect her and that she has not yet come across any tainted Yemeni student. Why are these Yemenis being singled out after the Karnataka and Gujarat blasts, she questioned.
The deputy superintendent of police, foreigners branch, Ms Reena Torcato said, “We are not targeting only Yemenis but are questioning students from all nationalities and it is an usual check up that we carry out. We have beefed up security and strengthened surveillance particularly after the blasts and this is a part of routine check on all the foreign nationals.” She informed that that there are 155 Yemeni students in the state while Afghans number 83 and British students number 24 with 11 each from Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania.