Jonathan Likongo, a student at Université de Montréal, made the decision to prolong his stay in Canada this summer instead of returning to Kinshasa to visit his family due to concerns about potential travel restrictions. He expressed that his choice to stay back turned out to be the right one.
In response to the Ebola outbreak, Canada implemented temporary measures to limit entry for specific foreign nationals from several countries in central Africa. Subsequently, the country announced that it would prohibit entry for foreign nationals who had visited the Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R.C.) within the previous 21 days.
These restrictions are currently scheduled to be in effect until August 29, causing challenges for students like Likongo, especially those who had planned to travel during the summer break without anticipating such limitations.
Impact on Students
Several universities in Quebec reported that a significant number of students could be impacted by these measures, affecting individuals already enrolled in programs and those set to commence studies in the upcoming fall semester.
For instance, Université de Montréal disclosed that 170 students from the D.R.C. or Sudan have been accepted for the fall term, with an additional 182 students from these countries already enrolled in programs. Similarly, Université Laval and Université du Québec à Montréal are also grappling with the situation, with approximately 240 and 100 affected students, respectively.
These institutions are collaborating with students to navigate the challenges, offering various options such as adjusting registration deadlines, evaluating situations on a case-by-case basis, and exploring alternatives like remote learning or deferred admissions.
Anticipating the Future
As the August 29 deadline approaches, students stranded outside Canada are uncertain about what lies ahead. Health Canada mentioned in a statement to CBC that they are closely monitoring the Ebola outbreak and will review the measures in conjunction with international partners before the expiration date.
For Likongo and many others, the current situation has led to missed opportunities to reunite with their families. They remain hopeful that the circumstances will improve soon, enabling them to reconnect with their loved ones.
