EDUCATION NEWS DIGEST
Canada: Nearly 200 teachers laid off in Coquitlam as Covid-19 forces international enrolment drop
By Jon Hernandez, May 13, 2020
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/nearly-200-teachers-laid-off-in-coquitlam-as-covid-19-forces-international-enrolment-drop-1.5568562
- School districts across the Lower Mainland expect to lose millions of dollars in operating revenues thanks to a decline in international student enrolment amid the Covid-19 pandemic. In Coquitlam, the shortfall means 193 teachers will be laid off at the end of the school year, according to the Coquitlam Teachers Association (CTA). Revenues from international student fees account for about CA$36 million of the school's typical CA$400 million budget.
China: Chinese high school students have the highest preference for college education: research
Author unknown, May 14, 2020
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-05/14/c_139056264.htm
- Nearly 90% of Chinese high school students intend to pursue higher education, according to recent research by the China Youth and Children Research Centre. It was based on a survey covering 3,903 high school students from China, 1,521 from America, 2,204 from Japan and 1,618 from the Republic of Korea.
Ireland: Irish Council for International Students and Union of Students in Ireland call for action on international students during Covid-19 crisis
Author unknown, May 13, 2020
https://www.internationalstudents.ie/news/irish-council-international-students-and-union-students-ireland-call-action-international
- Many international students are experiencing overcrowded living situations and are worried they will not be able to pay their rent because of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a survey carried out by the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS). Government has to ensure that the needs of international students are included in the Covid-19 crisis planning on the back of the worrying information revealed in the survey, according to ICOS and the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).
UK: BSC & NCUK launch online pre-master’s program
By Viggo Stacey, May 14, 2020
https://thepienews.com/news/bsc-ncuk-launch-online-pre-masters-program/
- English language provider British Study Centres and UK pathway specialist NCUK have extended their partnership to deliver an online pre-master’s program for students wishing to study a master’s degree at a UK university. Available entirely online, the PMP course aims to improve English language proficiency, study skills, and academic knowledge to adequately prepare for postgraduate study at 16 NCUK member institutions.
UK: Overseas enrolments steady for UK secondary schools
By Matthew Knott, May 14, 2020
https://studytravel.network/magazine/news/0/27457
- The Independent Schools Council (ISC) 2020 Census, completed by 1,374 independent schools in January, shows that there were 29,446 non-British students with parents overseas enrolled at the time of the survey, a 1.8% increase compared with the previous year. ISC’s annual census was conducted before the outbreak of Covid-19 in the UK, it should be noted.
- China, the top source market for UK secondary schools, continued its steady growth trajectory with a 7.6% increase to 8,290 students, while second-placed Hong Kong was steady with 5,127 students.
Global: Education publishing and the $140 billion digital disruption
By Holon IQ, May 14, 2020
https://www.holoniq.com/notes/education-publishing-and-the-140b-digital-disruption/
- The top 100 Global Publishers generate over US$70 billion of revenue, about half of the US$140 billion global publishing market. Beyond the complexities of defining 'publishing' and segmenting 'education', EdTech's US$160 billion+ market today will more than double by 2025, dwarfing the publishing market at large.
Global: Plans for return to campus still in flux
Author unknown, May 13, 2020
https://monitor.icef.com/2020/05/plans-for-return-to-campus-still-in-flux/
- In a running tally conducted by the Chronicle of Higher Education, seven in ten US colleges say that they are planning to reopen their campuses for in-person instruction for the academic year starting in September. In Australia and New Zealand, where early planning is underway to reopen borders for international students in the coming months, there is no clear timeline for when students will return to campus.
COVID-19 News
China: Beijing to reopen universities, more classes in elementary, middle schools
Author unknown, May 13, 2020
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-05/13/c_139054018.htm
- Beijing will reopen universities, kindergartens and more classes in elementary and middle schools, according to the Beijing Municipal Education Commission on Wednesday. From June 6, graduating students of colleges and universities can return, on a voluntary basis, to campuses where anti-virus measures have been soundly implemented, according to the commission.
France: French language schools seek government assistance
By Matthew Knott, May 13, 2020
https://studytravel.network/magazine/news/0/27454
- French language school association Groupement FLE is lobbying the government for additional support for the sector to ensure schools can survive the Covid-19 outbreak amid concerns that the peak summer season will be curtailed.
New Zealand: More student enrolments bankrolled in New Zealand budget
By John Ross, May 14, 2020
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/more-student-enrolments-bankrolled-new-zealand-budget
- New Zealand universities will attract a portion of some NZ$1.6 billion in new tertiary education spending outlined in the 2020 budget. The government has handed down the budget as scheduled on 14 May, despite the massive uncertainty ushered by the pandemic, with a NZ$50 billion Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund as the centrepiece.
- The budget includes a NZ$20 million hardship fund for students, who also stand to benefit from an eight-week extension to the country’s multi-billion-dollar Wage Subsidy Scheme. Policy analyst Dave Guerin said businesses in sectors that often employ students, such as retail, tourism and hospitality, could meet the higher threshold. Some international education providers such as English language schools could also benefit from the subsidy extension.
US: California State University System to conduct fall semester classes virtually
Author unknown, May 13, 2020
https://www.studenthousingbusiness.com/california-state-university-system-to-conduct-fall-semester-classes-virtually/
- The California State University system has announced that classes will primarily be delivered virtually for the fall 2020 semester, with limited exceptions for in-person teaching, learning and research activities that cannot be delivered virtually.