Australia is planning to open borders for international students under the new ‘traffic light’ border system. Check the latest developments here.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Australia might open borders for international students under the new ‘traffic light’ border system.
• The country might use a 'green light, red light' international border system to reopen universities.
• Reportedly, all vaccinated students who don't pose any health risk will be allowed into the country. 

The deadly wave of coronavirus across the world has badly affected the education system. Not just in India, schools and colleges across the world were shut due to the Covid pandemic. Many international colleges and educational institutions were closed and international students were sent back to their respective countries.

With the Covid situation coming under control and the vaccination drive underway, countries like Australia are planning to open borders for international students soon. As per the media reports, Australia might open borders for international students under the new ‘traffic light’ border system.

Australia expected to open borders for international students

- According to SkyNews, Australia could use a 'green light, red light' international border system to reopen educational institutions for international students. Under this 'traffic light' system, all vaccinated students who don't pose any health risk will be allowed into the country.

- Prime Minister of Australia, Scott Morrison, exclaimed recently that the country will be getting compatible vaccination recognition systems. Reportedly, this would be a crucial step in setting up travel bubbles potentially with Singapore, Japan, and South Korea.

- In May 2021, Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said Australians will not be able to travel abroad until later in 2022. He even stated that the international borders will likely remain shut till next year.

- In March, Australian Minister for Education and Youth Alan Tudge said he is hoping for international students to return to Australian universities by Semester 1 of 2022 after being vaccinated. He said, "There is still the opportunity to bring students back in small, phased pilots."

No rush to open the borders: Australia's Trade Minister

While PM Morrison is hopeful to open the borders soon for international students, Trade Minister Dan Tehan said the federal government is in no rush to open the borders for international travel. Though the country is in negotiations with Singapore about a potential travel bubble, no official confirmation has come so far.

While the travel bubble is still at the early stages of discussion, reports suggest that international students could be prioritised when the border opens. Singaporean students are expected to be the first cohort to return to Australia.

Universities are pushing the Australian government to reopen borders

Being shut for more than a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Australian universities have now started pushing the government to reopen borders. The universities commenced a campaign to push state and federal governments to loosen restrictions.