India, Aus to set up working group for safety of students

Amid growing concern over the spate of attacks on Indian students Down Under, India and Australia today decided to form a joint working group to coordinate between the two countries to ensure safety of students there.

The decision was taken here at a meeting between a high-level Australian delegation and officials of the ministry of overseas Indian affairs.

The working group will primarily focus on implementing measures to effectively regulate education agents in both the countries as it was felt that the agents play a key role in the system.

"We have agreed on formation of a joint working group which will help both the governments in effectively regulating education agents," K Mohandas, secretary in the ministry of overseas Indian affairs, told reporters after the meeting.

He said both sides felt that regulating the education agents was "very important" to ensure safety of the students in Australia and governments of the two countries will work hand in hand to ensure the safety of students.

Leader of the Australian delegation Colin Walters, first assistant secretary from the Australian department of education, said his government was doing everything to ensure safety to international students in Australia.