Asia-Pacific

Australian Greens urge gov't to protect overseas students

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-02-02 17:31
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CANBERRA: The Australian Greens on Tuesday urged the federal government to start protecting international students or risk collapse of the lucrative education sector.

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Eight English language schools operating under the GEOS name went into voluntary administration last week, leaving 2300 foreign students and nearly 400 employees uncertain about their future prospects.

Administrators for the nine companies operating the schools in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Cairns on Monday confirmed their doors would not reopen.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the news highlighted the urgent need for reform of the international education sector.

"If we are to stop these collapses from triggering a terminal crisis of confidence in the system ... the government needs to act now," she said.

Hanson-Young called for Labor legislation proposing greater protections for international students studying in Australia to be debated immediately.
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