Do you have international students at your school?

International students are putting a strain on resources, particularly in the area of ESL provision, write AMBER FLOHM and SARAH LAY.

On October 29 and 30 a campaigns course titled "Implementing Vinson -- A fair go for ESL education" was held at Federation.

Participants worked on various Department of Education and Training and Federation policy documents, developed strategies to assist English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers in achieving optimal programs for their students and developed a campaign for the 100 additional ESL teachers recommended by Inquiry into the Provision of Public Education in NSW head Professor Tony Vinson.

Members on this course addressed a range of issues currently affecting the provision of ESL in schools. One such issue was that of the increasing number of international students in schools.

In 2003 there were 1850 international students in Department of Education and Training (DET) schools, with 1722 of these reported as receiving ESL support. The vast majority of these students, 1561, were reported as being first or second phase learners. These students pay substantial fees to attend our government schools. They are a distinct group from temporary visa holders [not temporary protection visa holders], who are also administered through the International Student Centre.

There is evidence that international students are putting a strain on school resources, particularly in the area of ESL provision. In 2002 international students generated more than $12 million dollars for the government of which only $3 million was dispersed to schools. Schools receive $1875 per student in years 7 to 10 and $2250 in years 11 and 12.

International students are enrolled in 163 government schools. There are nine schools with more than 50 students, 19 schools with between 20 and 49 students, 20 schools with between 10 and 19 students and 114 schools with less than 10 students. The issue of international students is a growing one, with an additional 100 students enrolling every month.

Some schools, particularly those with large numbers of international students, are returning the income directly into programs to support these students. Some are allocating a coordinator to oversee the welfare needs of the students. Others are supplementing the school's ESL provision.

Federation is seeking detailed information regarding the needs of the students and how schools are using the money they receive, as well as the impacts these students are having on school programs. Please contact Multicultural Officer Penny Carosi on (02) 9217 2100 or email information to Federation (mail@nswtf.org.au.)

Amber Flohm is an ESL/Spanish teacher at Bonnyrigg High School and Sarah Lay is an ESL/mathematics teacher at Marrickville Intensive English Centre.

For further information

November 2003 contents