EDUCATION —
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
456. Hon CHARLES SMITH to the Minister for Education and
Training:
Minister, I have omitted a key word
from my question. When I insert it, I will let the minister know.
I
refer to the Turnbull government's implementation of a new visa in 2016
enabling—I will insert ''international''—primary
school students —
Hon Sue Ellery: I knew what
the member meant.
Hon CHARLES SMITH: Yes; very
good—and their guardians access to Australian schools, and the recent
marketing of Australia's school system at roadshows across China.
(1) Has the minister been consulted
by the commonwealth on these roadshows?
(2) Are Western Australian
schools ready for an influx of international students?
(3) Does the
minister concede that education standards will very likely be damaged by having
non–English speaking students littered across Western Australia's
classrooms, as we have recently witnessed with universities?
(4) How many
international students are currently enrolled in WA?
(5) How many
stage 1 English as an additional language or dialect students are currently
enrolled in government schools?
(6) What were the
total fees made from international students in WA schools in the last year?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
Primary school students have been
able to come to Australia for schooling for many years. Prior to 1 July 2016,
the schools sector visa, subclass 571, enabled school-age students to enrol in
public schools. This visa was replaced by the student visa, subclass 500, in
2016.
(1) No. These are routine events.
The McGowan government also promotes WA education overseas.
(2) Schools have
enrolled international students for many years. Public schools can consider
enrolling international students when all local students have been accommodated
and there is existing space. The Department of Education has a plan to increase
the number of international students in WA schools to support the McGowan
government's international education strategy.
(3) Not at
all. Standards are set by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority. These
are monitored and moderated and will continue to be. SCSA has ensured no
diminution in education standards to date as a result of international
students, and that will continue. All international students are assessed for
their English language competence and enter into an appropriate English
language program prior to commencing mainstream schooling. Ongoing English
language support is provided. Every opportunity is provided to enable students
to be successful.
(4) As at the
semester 1 2019 census, 624 international students were enrolled in Western Australian
public schools.
(5) As at the semester 1 2019 census, there were 11 108
such students. Not all are classed as international students.
(6) In 2018, a total
of $13 633 751 was collected from international students enrolled in Western Australian
public schools. After taking into account administrative costs, this money is
distributed back to schools to cover the cost of their education.
Madam President, I would not
normally do this but we have a disallowance debate underway, so I am going to
ask that the business of the house be resumed.