20pc of Oz pvt colleges are visa factories: Report

Melbourne, Mar 9: A news education sector report has revealed that nearly 20 percent of the private colleges in Australia are actually 'permanent residency factories'.

Former MP Bruce Baird, who had submitted the report in Canberra Tuesday, Mar 9, had said that the education industry has been badly hit by 'unscrupulous people cashing in on foreigners' wish to settle down in the country.

'We have permanent residency factories, (and) if you ask any of the good providers they'll quickly name those who they believe are the dodgy operators... Baird said.

"It is those groups that we should be directing our attention to. I certainly think that they represent... about 20 per cent of the vocational sector,"Baird was quoted in a news agency report.

The report suggested for the development of clear, enforceable standards, including fines for non-compliance.

Recommending the inclusion of a manual in major languages in the government's Study in Australia Website, Baird said that a hub for the foreign students to provide information and to advocacy services should be set up.

'High-risk applicants... won't be allowed in. If they are medium- to lower-risk, they would have to pay a higher rate of registration and they would be monitored more regularly,' he said.

'We need to do more work in terms of social inclusion, and part of the idea of the education hubs is actually to encourage greater interaction with students and the Australian community.'

In response Education Minister Julia Gillard said that the student's decision to come to the country should be governed with immingration plan.

'We're saying to international students, come, study in this country, it's a great place to study.'

'But the purpose of coming here as a student is to engage in study and end up with a qualification, not with an immigration pathway,' she was quoted as saying.

'It is those groups that we should be directing our attention to. I certainly think that they represent... about 20 per cent of the vocational sector,' Baird said in a news agency report.

Baird was asked by Gillard review the international education sector.

OneIndia News