Slide in overseas enrolment in Australian schools

Victorian High schools have reported slide in overseas pupils enrolments,the official figures released in the backdrop of violent attacks on Indian students and rising Australian dollar said.

While Australian state’s USD 4 billion international education industry are fearing slump in the enrolments,latest official figures reveal high schools,not tertiary institutions,are likely to suffer as of rising cost.

International enrolments in Victorian high schools dropped four per cent,or 310 students,to 7657 in the year to September – the first fall since 2006,’The Age’ report said adding nationally,enrolments fell almost 7 per cent.

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Education sector in New South Wales continued to remain one of the largest export earner despite Australian educational institutions being in spotlight for violent attacks on Indian students.

According to ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ on Monday,the troubled sector managed to push up state economy by generating USD 6.4 billion despite revelation of shonky colleges and security concerns of Indian students.

Higher education earnings from international students rose by USD 1.3 billion to USD 9.5 billion for the year and vocational training earned USD 4.3 billion,latest figures said.

In Victoria,High school enrolments by Chinese students,by far the biggest group of foreign students in the state,are down about five per cent,or 235 students,to 4129,it further said.

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“China is basically the market that most schools rely on,and the numbers have fallen,” she said adding education agents in China were reporting a drop in demand as a stronger Australian dollar made fees more expensive.

A year at a private school for an international student costs up to USD 25,000. The public fee is up to USD 12,500.

Foreign high school students paid about USD 27 million to Victorian public schools last year,and account for about 4 per cent of foreign students in the state.

International education is worth more than USD 4 billion annually in Victoria and is the state’s biggest export earner.

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Education agents in India have warned of a steep drop in demand for tertiary places in Australia due to safety concerns,however enrolment figures are yet to show any decline. Indian students make up only 0.8 per cent of total high school enrolments,but are the biggest group of foreign students in Victoria.

The figures suggested that the turmoil of violent attacks on Indian students,and a volatile Australian dollar,failed to affect higher education,vocational training,schools and English-language courses demand in New South Wales.

International Education Association of Australia’s president Stephen Connolly said international education growth as an export earner was not surprising however,demand from India was likely to drop next year.