Australia loses popularity among foreign high schools students

Melbourne, Nov. 29 : An alarming drop in the enrolment by foreign students in Victorian high schools has triggered renewed fears for the 4 billion dollar international education industry of the Australian state.

Education agents in India have warned of a steep drop in demand for tertiary places in Australia due to safety concerns.

Indian students make up 0.8 per cent of total high school enrolments, but are the biggest group of foreign students in Victoria.

More than half are studying at vocational training colleges.

High school enrolments by Chinese students, by far the biggest group of foreign students in Victoria, are also down about 5 per cent, or 235 students, to 4129.

Melbourne universities and training colleges have been in the spotlight this year after a string of violent attacks on Indian students and the closure of several disreputable colleges.

But the latest Federal Government figures suggest high schools, not tertiary institutions, are bearing the brunt of falling enrolments, The Age reports.

International enrolments in Victorian high schools dropped four per cent, or 310 students, to 7657 in the year to September - the first fall since 2006. Nationally, enrolments fell almost 7 per cent.

--ANI