I have a very similar background. The elite schools he talks about after passing those exams early. Hundreds of exercises, day after day, for a decade on end, classes, after school programs. Eventually a PhD.
I'm a human being, not some statistic to bolster the GDP of some corrupt country that doesn't give a damn about me. It's not "brain drain" it's just building a better life for yourself. Other countries want to give me a better life, to give my kids a better life, where they don't need to deal with corrupt cops that shake us down, doctors that demand bribes to provide the most basic care, wars, etc.
> Brain drain is a sad reality few try to counter.
My extended family was abused, expropriated, and at times just killed for centuries by the political system of these countries while not letting us leave. I'm so glad that my generation is the last one to have any ties to that place. Everyone in my family got educated and left.
Brain drain is the best thing that's ever happened to us. It's not something to counter.