An Indian medical student who came back from Ukraine in the face of the ongoing Russian invasion has requested the Central government to help her pursue her course in her home country. "I don't want to go back to Ukraine, expecting the Central government to do something about our education here", news agency ANI quoted medical student Pratisksha Sharma as saying.
Pratisksha was studying at Vinnytsia National Pirogov Medical University in Ukraine. Narrating her ordeal, she said, "I was supposed to come back from Ukraine on February 24. I was in a bunker in Kyiv for three days. Then I went to the Hungary border from where I flew back to India through the Indian Air force flight."
Speaking about her studies, Sharma said, "As of now, we are having online classes. If our government is accommodating us in Indian colleges, then I would study in India. If they are not accommodating us, then I will clear my KROK exam in Ukraine and go to some other safer country to finish my studies." KROK is a licensing examination needed for awarding the qualification of a doctor or pharmacist.
Pratisksha said online education won't work for medical students as the subject requires lots of practical classes and studying it online will not make any sense.
{{/usCountry}}Pratisksha said online education won't work for medical students as the subject requires lots of practical classes and studying it online will not make any sense.
{{/usCountry}}"Practical information is very important. We need live experiences. I don't think online education will work for us and later there will be issues saying that we don't trust you guys as you are from this batch that didn't have proper classes. We don't want that semi-educated tag on us," she said.
Narendra Sharma, the father of Pratisksha Sharma, told ANI, "She came back now, we are waiting for the government to do something because there are a lot of children who are bearing the brunt of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. If she is not getting an opportunity here, we will try to send her somewhere abroad safer. She wants to become a doctor. I want the government to take steps to provide opportunities here in India for the children who are evacuated from Ukraine."
He added, "The way the Central Government has brought back children from Ukraine safely, in the same way, the Indian government should take steps to provide them education in India."
Russia's invasion of Ukraine began on February 24 after President Vladimir Putin announced “special military operations” on the Ukrainian territory. India has evacuated over 20,000 of its citizens from war-hit Ukraine under Operation Ganga.
(With agency inputs)