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A Chinese student attends class at a high school in Maine, on the east coast of the US. Photo: AP

Parents in mainland China top Asian survey on overseas education for their children

Fifty-one per cent of respondents want their children to study overseas, survey finds

The mainland's middle class is the most willing in Asia to send their children abroad for education, according to a corporate survey.

For those who can afford it, an overseas education is becoming increasingly desirable for their children, with some mainland parents saying it affords a broader outlook later in life and widens career options.

The survey found 51 per cent of respondents on the mainland hoped to send their children to schools overseas.

Hong Kong came second, with 39 per cent of respondents saying they were willing to send children to study abroad, and India placed third, at 34 per cent.

The study was carried out by TNS Singapore on behalf of Visa between November and December last year. On the mainland, 500 credit-card holders, aged between 18 and 55, were polled. They had an annual household income of more than 200,000 yuan (HK$253,200). Households surveyed in Hong Kong had incomes of HK$480,000 or above.

The United States was the most favoured destination among the middle class in terms of education spending, the survey said. Britain came second, followed by Australia.

Zhang Yu, a director at a Beijing-based consulting company, said he had considered sending his son, who is studying at secondary school on the mainland, overseas. He said that although the education level at home had been improving, he hoped his son could broaden his vision by studying abroad.

"It's also because the tuition fees and other costs are now more affordable to me. If I couldn't afford it, I wouldn't consider it," he said. Zhang said he expected the government to relax visa policies in the future to make it easier for families to choose an education overseas.

Developed countries such as the US and Britain were good destinations, but Zhang also hoped his son could take part in exchange programmes in Latin American countries.

Meanwhile, the average age of those surveyed on the mainland was 33, with an annual household income of about 420,000 yuan.

The young and affluent were also big spenders, with nine out of 10 setting aside more than 6,300 yuan each month.

 

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Mainlanders 'most keen' in Asia on foreign schools
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