Private schools cite dangers of luring more foreign students

The CNMI Coalition of Private Schools is opposing a legislative initiative seeking to grant foreign students open access to CNMI institutions in hopes of broadening the Commonwealth’s economic base, due to its potential impact on infrastructures.

Coalition President Scott Norman argued the move is likely to benefit the local economy in a very small scale since CNMI private schools are non-profit and do not contribute to the local treasury through taxes.

The secondary effect to hosting a large group of foreign students on island will only be through commercial purchases they make, which according to Mr. Norman, is projected to be very minimal.

“The effect will not be that significant to our economy because they are not allowed employment while on island since they’re here strictly for education,” said the Grace Christian Academy president.

The coalition strongly believes luring foreign students to pursue their studies in the Commonwealth will add burden to the duties of the Department of Labor and Immigration and would put the community’s safety at a risk.

“It could be a very dangerous thing. When we bring foreign students as non-immigrants, there has to be a way to monitor them. They come here strictly for education purposes but how do we control it?” the educator raised.

He added that the CNMI is not yet ready to take on the challenge of hosting more foreign students than it can handle, noting the islands’ lack of sufficient facilities and infrastructure.

But private school officials are not closing their doors on the intent of the legislation.

“This is something that needs to be reworded and reworked so that there is tight control of immigration to assure the safety and the health of the CNMI. . .and that’s the most important part. We have had these problems in the past where students came here and we lost track of them,” he said.

In the mainland United States, long and exhausting debates had to be overcome before the federal government finally allowed foreign students to penetrate its education system, according to Mr. Norman.

The State Board of Education, to which Mr. Norman is also a member, has echoed the coalition’s main concerns on the initiative.

The Northern Marianas College has cited the potential market in attracting foreign students to attend private schools on island, saying it could boost the local economy.

However, the college recommended that a provision be amended so that the Department of Immigration will be allowed to issue student visas to “bona fide foreign students qualified to pursue a full course study at an established institution of learning or other recognized place of study in the CNMI.”