Teachers must improve their language skills
City University chief Chang Hsin-kang suggests that Hong Kong 'should take more non-local students' and your editorial depicts how international students can actually benefit Hong Kong today. I agree that international students can bring in new ideas, but I disagree with some of the points put forward.
Your editorial compares the local higher education industry with various English-speaking countries which can attract a high number of international students because English is the lingua franca. Although universities in Hong Kong adopt English as the medium of instruction, some classes are still taught in Cantonese or Putonghua. Lingnan University has recently required its teaching staff to teach all classes in English, and they are unhappy about it.
In addition, a number of tutors employed by local universities do not speak communicative English. Teachers really have to improve their language skills. Otherwise, those popular places for higher education can never be compared with Hong Kong.
Your editorial points out that most international students are on scholarships. The rest are willing to pay full fees. In reality, fee-paying international students pay about HK$10,000 more than local students, while the government actually sponsors each student for a significant amount of money every year. If international students are willing to pay full fees, the current tuition fee should be raised to HK$200,000 or more a year. But if this was so, they would prefer to go to other countries instead, so somehow the Hong Kong public is sponsoring them.
I do not believe local students are afraid that more university places will be given to international students. They know that the number of places is increasing while the number of Hong Kong students is decreasing.
Local students who are currently studying at tertiary institutions are probably worried about the lack of resources, such as space in the library, computer labs, sports facilities and accommodation.
