JOHNSON C. H. Tal ee
S= international Douglas College students

will have the option of paying their tuition
fees in monthly instalments come fall
semester. This rather unusual move is in
response to one of the many effects of the
economic downturn in Asia.
“The economy is not
Unstable.. much of a problem.
Our main concern is
with the growing differ-
i ence between exchange
A S1AN ‘tes.’ said Tad Hosoi,
Director of the Centre
for International
Education.
currency may Da Sea
rencies lose value against
the Canadian dollar, it
becomes more expensive

to purchase the loonie in
mean,*

most Asian countries.

Tad Hosoi

For example, on April I,
South Koreans needed 980.4 won
e : e (South Korean currency) to buy
internationals: canatisn Hones,
three days later they needed 1040
won for a Canadian dollar.
However, Hosoi-doesn't expect
S tude nN ts CAN that a large number of students
will require the special considera-
tion. Only international students
from countries worst hit by the
Let jo b '§ lopsided exchange rates are eligi-
ble for monthly payments.
International students are stu-
dents from other countries whose
sole purpose in Canada is the pursuit of education.
They are particularly vulnerable to currency fluctu-
ations since they are prohibited under immigration
laws from gaining Canadian employment experi-
ence. Consequently, they must rely on parents send-
ing money from home. Indonesia, Malaysia,
Thailand and South Korea are the countries most
severely affected by the currency crisis. The majori-

July 1998 Page 6 NEWS

Instalment plan for international students

ty of international DC students are from countries
other than these four,

“In the case of the Korean [won], there’s a 50%
devaluation. And a 75 to 85% drop in the

Indonesian [rupiah]. That's like going down to the

 

J.C.H. Tai Photo

States and getting only 20 cents for a dollar
Canadian,” said Hosoi.

The Centre for International Education is help-
ing students apply for temporary employment
authorizations from Citizenship and Immigration
Canada. The federal government hopes that the
exemption from both normal limitations and the
$150 processing fee will help stranded students
who are trying to find ways to supplement their
income.

One of these students is Lunk, a first-year
Indonesian student at Douglas College. He has
been commissioned by the Centre for International
Education to translate its worldwide web site into
Indonesian. He is also actively seeking work off
campus. Lunk has rather realistic expectations. “I
hope to get a job at McDonald’s or Burger King,”
he said.

The Other Press is sad to report that at press time
Lunk—like many other international students—
could only fantasize about flipping burgers.