G
General Veers
Guest
World
Mar 9, 2010
Some schools rip-off foreigners
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Education Minister Julia Gillard said she supported stricter regulations of education agents and institutions but reiterated that studying in Australia was not a free immigration pass. -- PHOTO: AFP
<!-- story content : start --> CANBERRA (Australia) - A REVIEW of Australia's international education sector released Tuesday calls for tougher national accreditation and improved protection for foreign students who may be financially or otherwise exploited. The federal government commissioned the review of the nation's third-largest export industry - worth about AU$17 billion (S$21.7 billion) - in the wake of attacks against international students and claims that some schools were taking advantage of foreigners.
Its release follows the closure of a handful of schools late last year that left students without tuition refunds or recognition of their earned credits. The author of the report, former member of parliament Bruce Baird, said the education industry had been 'distorted' by institutions that cashed in on foreigners' desire to live in Australia rather than earn an education. He put that number at about 20 per cent of the schools that provide education to foreigners.
'We have permanent residency factories,' he told reporters. 'It is those groups that we should be directing our attention to.' His report recommends the development of clear, enforceable standards for educational institutions, and fines for noncompliance. Baird also proposed international student hubs in each state and territory to provide information and advocacy services, and an independent national ombudsman that could mediate any conflicts. Baird said there was often not a sufficient attempt to integrate students into Australian life and that it had taken too long to find new places for students affected by school closures.
Education Minister Julia Gillard said the government would use Baird's report, saying international education was important to Australia's reputation and economy. She said she supported stricter regulations of education agents and institutions but reiterated that studying in Australia was not a free immigration pass. -- AP
Mar 9, 2010
Some schools rip-off foreigners
<!-- end left side bar -->
Education Minister Julia Gillard said she supported stricter regulations of education agents and institutions but reiterated that studying in Australia was not a free immigration pass. -- PHOTO: AFP
<!-- story content : start --> CANBERRA (Australia) - A REVIEW of Australia's international education sector released Tuesday calls for tougher national accreditation and improved protection for foreign students who may be financially or otherwise exploited. The federal government commissioned the review of the nation's third-largest export industry - worth about AU$17 billion (S$21.7 billion) - in the wake of attacks against international students and claims that some schools were taking advantage of foreigners.
Its release follows the closure of a handful of schools late last year that left students without tuition refunds or recognition of their earned credits. The author of the report, former member of parliament Bruce Baird, said the education industry had been 'distorted' by institutions that cashed in on foreigners' desire to live in Australia rather than earn an education. He put that number at about 20 per cent of the schools that provide education to foreigners.
'We have permanent residency factories,' he told reporters. 'It is those groups that we should be directing our attention to.' His report recommends the development of clear, enforceable standards for educational institutions, and fines for noncompliance. Baird also proposed international student hubs in each state and territory to provide information and advocacy services, and an independent national ombudsman that could mediate any conflicts. Baird said there was often not a sufficient attempt to integrate students into Australian life and that it had taken too long to find new places for students affected by school closures.
Education Minister Julia Gillard said the government would use Baird's report, saying international education was important to Australia's reputation and economy. She said she supported stricter regulations of education agents and institutions but reiterated that studying in Australia was not a free immigration pass. -- AP
