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CAN: overseas K-12 students in BC could face levy

A raft of far-reaching proposals to overhaul K-12 level international education programmes in British Columbia, Canada – including a levy on foreign students – is being mooted by the provincial government. It says the reforms will protect the reputation of BC education abroad, but many in the sector complain they have not been consulted on the proposals.

"K-12 tuition across BC brought in almost CAN$139m last year"

The reforms, which were leaked to the Vancouver Sun earlier this month, could see statewide standard tuition fees introduced, ESL services improved, and the the number of international students recruited by schools capped.

Most strikingly, a surcharge of $100 to $250 placed on all K-12 students who relocate to Canada would help pay for the changes.

“In our view, nothing will proceed until school trustees have been engaged in the discussion”

Education Minister Don McRae said the measures would help raise standards as BC sought more fee-paying students in a highly competitive market. “If we have one bad story internationally, it really hurts opportunities,” he said.

Along with Victoria, BC welcomes the lion’s share of Canada’s overseas students. More than 15,000 “non-residents” attend its public and private schools with a further 8,000 enrolled in 34 offshore schools based in China, Korea, Egypt, Thailand and Qatar.

The government is eager to see enrolments grow by 6,000 in the K-12 sector by 2016, however there have been problems including overcrowding in home-stays, inflated tuition fees, overspending and questionable contracts. Additionally some international students have little or no English, putting a strain on ESL courses.

McRae says his review is in an early stage but that everything was “on the table”. Other proposals would mandate that students attending offshore schools spend at least one semester in a BC school before graduating with a BC diploma; the establishment of an official complaints procedure for internationals; and a standard agreement for agents who recruit international students on behalf of school districts.

However, worried educators say international programmes have thus far been effective and that they have been kept out of the loop over the reforms—the details of which remain vague. Michael McEvoy, president of the BC School Trustees’ Association said: “In our view, nothing will proceed until school trustees have been engaged in the discussion and agree (about) what needs to be done.”

Others are concerned about the impact on programmes—for instance warning that standardised fees may impair competition. Susan Lambert, president of the B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF), said: “We already know that it’s lopsided, in that West Van and Vancouver can attract international students far better than Stikine and Gold Trail.”

K-12 tuition across BC brought in almost CAN$139m last year with fees at public schools averaging CAN$12,135 a year and CAN$10,000 at independent schools. Vancouver and Coquitlam benefit the most, each collecting CAN$14m each.

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