400 Chinese students stranded in Australia as four schools close down
November 9th, 2009 - 12:41 pm ICT by ANIMelbourne, Nov 9(ANI): At least 400 Chinese students are stranded in Australia after the closure of four schools, prompting the Chinese consulate in Sydney to warn students and their parents to be careful while choosing their schools in the country.
According to China’s Consulate General, approximately 400 Chinese students were studying at the Meridian International School, one of four schools under the Global Campus Management Group in Sydney and Melbourne, which was forced out of operation on November 5 after it failed to repay its 20 million Australian dollars in debts.
The consulate did not say how many Chinese students were studying in the other three schools, but unconfirmed reports suggest an estimate of nearly 1,000.
The Consulate General also called on authorities in the country to take action.
“Chinese diplomats in Australia have urged that local authorities to properly handle the issue and meet with some of the Chinese students enrolled in the collapsed college group,” The China Daily quoted a consulate statement, as saying.
Chinese students account for 24 percent of international students in Australia.
Meanwhile, the Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations has scheduled meetings on Monday in Melbourne and later in the week in Sydney to brief students affected by the closure.
According to a press release by the department, international students at the colleges will be offered a place in a similar course at another institution or a refund of their outstanding fees. (ANI)
- Rise in Indian students opting for Australia - Jul 05, 2011
- Indian students left stranded in Australia with closure of tenth school - Nov 07, 2009
- Indian students continue to shun Australia - Oct 27, 2011
- Indian owned college collapses in Australia - Mar 23, 2010
- Indians hit by colleges closures in Australia (Lead) - Nov 06, 2009
- Demand to clear dues of Indian students in Australia - Jan 27, 2011
- Australian states for vocational student visa changes - Oct 10, 2011
- Australian colleges not refunding fees to Indian students - Sep 24, 2010
- Australia loses popularity among foreign high schools students - Nov 29, 2009
- Universities reel as Indian students ditch Australia - Jun 02, 2011
- Spurned Indian students fight for refund of their fees from Australia - May 03, 2010
- Australia to end IELTS monopoly for student visas - Oct 17, 2011
- Oz education industry likely to suffer setback as US-UK-Canada attracting more Indians - Jan 18, 2011
- Australia Issues Report on Crimes Against Foreign Students - Aug 12, 2011
- Australia announces new visa measures for students - Nov 09, 2009
Tags: australian dollars, campus management, china daily, chinese consulate in sydney, chinese diplomats, chinese students, closure, college group, colleges, debts, department of education, education employment, employment and workplace relations, global campus, international students, local authorities, management group, melbourne, meridian international, Press Release