By Sandra Davie, The Straits Times, 8 Oct 2012
A TARGET to attract 150,000 international students here by 2015 may have to be put on hold as their numbers have dropped significantly after seeing a steady climb over several years.
Figures obtained by The Straits Times suggest that as of July, there were only 84,000 such students enrolled in private and government-run schools and institutions, including the polytechnics and universities. Four years ago, in 2008, the number stood at close to 100,000.
The numbers were released to The Straits Times by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, which issues visas for foreigners applying to study here. The July figure excludes the children of expatriate parents who hold dependant passes and are enrolled in "foreign system schools", such as the United World College and Singapore American School.
The government bloc has seen the largest drop in foreign students - to some 51,000 now. Four years ago, the figure was well above 55,000, according to student recruitment agents.
The remaining number of about 33,000 foreigners are studying in private schools, such as the Singapore Institute of Management and PSB Academy. Four years ago, the figure was well above 35,000, said the agents.
The industry usually cites ballpark numbers as the authorities have never released exact figures.
Student recruiters attribute the drop largely to two factors: the Government putting a cap on the number of foreign students being admitted into public schools and institutions, and stricter regulations for private schools that have led to half of them shutting down.
They also note that fewer foreigners are applying to study at government-run schools and institutions here because of a hefty hike in fees for foreigners.
The three universities, five polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) raised tuition fees this year, with the heftiest hikes levied on foreigners.
Foreign students at polytechnics pay $7,500 a year, 28 per cent more than the fees last year, while those enrolling in full-time Nitec courses this year at ITE pay $10,000 a year, up from $3,740.
Some 10 years ago, the Government set a target of hosting 150,000 international students by 2015, as part of its plan to grow Singapore as a top education hub.
But growing unease among Singaporeans on the influx of foreigners led to a cap.
The Education Ministry announced last year that the number of foreign students in universities would fall from the current 18per cent to 15per cent by 2015, even as more places are created for Singaporeans.
Education Unlimited Singapore, an agency that matches foreign students to schools, says many foreign students are now considering other destinations such as Australia and Malaysia.
Said general manager Gregory Lye: "The government schools, polytechnics and universities were the first choice for many foreigners, as they were high-quality and cheap compared to many other study destinations.
"Now, the fees have gone up considerably. Even if they can afford the fees, they are not sure of getting a place."
When contacted, the Economic Development Board, a key agency behind the hub plan did not say whether the 2015 target had been put off. It would say only that it "will continue to diversify Singapore's educational offerings, with an emphasis on building industry-relevant capabilities".
'Fewer foreigners' in S'pore varsities
They form 16% of enrolment, down from 18% last year, says PM Lee
By Elgin Toh, The Straits Times, 13 Oct 2012
SYDNEY - Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong disclosed yesterday that the pool of foreign students in Singapore's universities has shrunk.
They now form just 16 per cent of enrolment, compared with 18 per cent last year,a decline that is in line with the Government's promise to cut the foreign student population to 15 per cent by 2015.
Mr Lee, who is on a five-day visit to Australia, made the disclosure to businessmen in Sydney when asked whether Singapore aimed to become a hub for overseas students.
But while Singapore wants to be a centre for tertiary studies attracting good foreign students, it also wants to ensure its universities remained essentially Singaporean, he said.
"We would like Singapore to be a vibrant centre where there are lots of outstanding education institutions, something like Boston, or perhaps Sydney," he said.
It would allow "Singaporeans to pursue their tertiary education" alongside "a diverse and distinguished group of students from around the region and around the world".
The lattergroup tends to "bring with them their backgrounds, their experiences, their different cultures and enhance the experience for Singaporeans and for each other", Mr Lee said.
But a balance had to be struck between the desire to foster diversity and quality, and the need "to keep the Singapore character of the institutions", he said.
Hence, his pledge last year to gradually curtail the proportion of foreign students at local universities by giving all the 2,000 places to be created by 2015 to Singaporeans.
Mr Lee was speaking at a lunch event hosted in his honour by the Asia Society Australia in Sydney. About 200 Australian businessmen attended, as did New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell, with whom he held brief discussions just before the lunch.
One topic they discussed was casinos, as Sydney is debating whether to allow a second one to be built after The Star, which has been in operation since 1995.
Quizzed later at the lunch event, Mr Lee stressed that he did not want to get involved in Sydney's debate, but was willing to share Singapore's experience.
He said Singapore allowed two integrated resorts from the start, not one, because "having crossed the Rubicon" in deciding to have casinos, it no longer was a matter of principle, and two made more business sense than one.
The casinos, he said, have been successful from the perspective of business and government revenue, as well as urban planning, because the Marina Bay Sands resort "has done a lot" for the Singapore skyline.
But the Government is "watching anxiously" the social effects.
Mr Lee said the proportion of Singaporeans among casino-goers has stabilised at one in four, and the total amount of gambling before and after the casinos opened is about the same.
But compulsive gambling - "the very extreme cases" - has risen slightly.
"From a social point of view, we would like to say that it has been all right, but it is early to say because the casinos have been operating for only 21/2 years," he said.
The casino discussion in Sydney reflects a larger concern in Australia about seizing opportunities in what its Prime Minister Julia Gillard calls the "Asian Century", in which Australia competes but also cooperates with and benefits from its Asian neighbours.
Mr Lee addressed this as well yesterday, calling on Australia to deepen engagements with Asia.
He leaves Sydney for Singapore today, ending an eight-day official visit to New Zealand and Australia.
No comments:
Post a Comment