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THE expansion of the QSI International School at Shekou
and opening of Nanshan International School of Sino-Canada are
expected to relieve the study demand for expatriates children
in Shenzhen and neighboring areas.
The QSI Shekou took in 108 students from 24 countries for
the new school year, almost four times more than last year.
"The development of QSI's school has been much faster
than anticipated," said Principal Val Colvin yesterday.
Colvin started the school with 24 students last year,
while the number this year goes beyond the school's full
capacity to nearly 120 students with 10 more students to come
in the next few weeks.
Nanshan International School of Sino-Canada, jointly
established by the Provincial Government of New Brunswick,
Canada and Nanshan District Government, will take in about 60
new students from more than 10 countries today.
School principal Vernon Goodfellow was excited to offer
Canadian curricula in Shenzhen.
Shenzhen has more than 7,300 expatriates, about 3,500 of
them working on a permanent basis, sources from Shenzhen
Municipal Public Security Bureau said.
The number is expected to increase by six to 10 percent
on an annual basis.
Yet, Shenzhen's international schools, whatever the scale
and number, could not meet the demand of a growing population.
Three international schools including Shekou
International School, QSI International School Shekou and Daya
Bay French School handle only 335 students, 54 percent of the
foreign children and the rest of the 219 are scattered in
local schools.
An international school is not only a place to educate
foreign children, it also symbolizes a city's investment
environment and competitiveness.
The local government decided to render help in
registration processes, leasing of land and improvement of
facilities for international schools to meet the growing
demand in March, after appeals by members at the annual local
session of the CPPCC, the top advisory body.
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