JEDDAH, 18 March 2005 — Andhra Pradesh Information Minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir has initiated a move to prepare the ground for an amendment to an Indian presidential order allowing Gulf-based Andhra Pradesh non-resident Indian (AP NRI) students to take admission in professional courses in the state under the “local’ category. Presently, it is mandatory for the state NRI students to have at least four years of education ending with Intermediate in the local area of the university they apply for admission.
The state government has also made a move to open education centers of Osmania University and Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in the Gulf. NRI students, who were compelled to seek higher education elsewhere, will now be able to study in the Gulf itself. These extension counters will initially offer undergraduate courses leading to B.A., B.Sc., B. Com. and B.C.A.
Giving these details Afsar Faheem, Jeddah-based member of the newly formulated AP NRI Cell Study Group, said yesterday that these developments followed the representation made to the minister about the problems faced by AP NRI students.
“I’m happy that Indian Consul General Dr. Ausaf Sayeed has assured full support in the matter of establishing the extension centers, while offering the services of the Consulate to conduct various examinations,” Faheem said and invited AP NRIs to register at the newly launched www.apnri.org.in website.