Coalition clears stand on foreign students initiative

Top officials from the Coalition of Private Schools disclosed yesterday the group stands pat on its position to block efforts promoting the open admission of foreign students into the Northern Marianas despite dissenting opinions.

The group said it plans to meet with the House Committee on Education in the next scheduled public hearing to present its official stand on the issue.

Organization leader Scott Norman also countered beliefs that the issue is dividing the coalition, citing a unanimous call among its members to go against the legislative initiative.

During its Nov. 3rd quarterly meeting, Mount Carmel School president Margaret Dela Cruz, also the coalition’s secretary, noted that almost all private school representatives in attendance voted against moves to amend the existing law.

Coalition officials said that only Eucon International School signified support for the legislation among 12 or 13 other members.

Eucon president Dr. Christian Wei, in a separate interview earlier, stated that some members of the coalition are in support of the bill, convinced of the move’s potential to uplift the local economy.

“We discussed the issue thoroughly–the pros and cons–before we put it to vote. And it was a unanimous decision,” said Mr. Norman.

But Mr. Norman said private schools who wish to pursue initiatives should not be dissuaded to push through with their plans.

“If an individual school wishes to pursue something, it has every right to do so. It’s part of the joys of being on American soil. But our main concern is please don’t use the name of the coalition if it’s not the coalition’s stand,” he said.

The coalition president also reiterated that while private schools are open to enrollment-generating schemes, the group is deeply concerned about its serious impact on the community’s safety and local infrastructure.

“It’s not that we’re just blatantly against people coming in but we feel that they need to come in as they have been coming in…with their families, to start businesses on island, subject to strict immigration control,” said Mr. Norman.

He added that lawmakers should refrain from striking out the Department of Labor and Immigration’s active involvement in the foreign students’ entry process.

“DOLI has to be part of it. With the number of students projected to come in, it’s going to be unmanageable and we feel that DOLI is the only agency capable of handling this huge group of students, although it will yet be another tremendous burden on top of the tasks they have already,” he said.

He also warned that the influx of more foreign students on island will not guarantee a boost in the economy, citing that private schools do not contribute to the local treasury through taxes.

“When tuition comes into one school, it stays in that school. We [private schools] are, in fact, the beneficiaries. CNMI is not the direct beneficiary for students who come in,” said Mr. Norman.