According to Singapore Lianhe Zaobao, China has implemented strict entry policies due to the new crown epidemic in the past three years, which has affected Thailand and Philippines students who are interested in studying in China. Some students have turned their attention to Japan and South Korea. Local scholars hope that the Chinese government can accelerate the easing of restrictions to reverse the trend of local students in learning Chinese "reducing fever".
Singapore Yusov Isa Southeast Asia Research Institute recently held an online symposium called "Chinese Education in China and Thailand, the Philippines: Change and Continuation". Two speakers explained the development of Chinese education in Thailand and the Philippines. During the Q&A question, both believed that the COVID-19 epidemic and the strict entry restrictions imposed by China in the past three years have had an impact on the development of Chinese education in Thailand and the Philippines.
Many scholarship winners in the Philippines study online
Assistant professor of the Chinese Department of Athenyao University, Manila, Philippines, said that many students in the Philippines who are interested in going to China to study or strive for Chinese government scholarship have begun to turn their attention to scholarships in countries such as South Korea or Japan. As far as she knows, there are currently no more than 20 scholarship winners waiting to study in China in the Philippines.
She believes that China's strict control of borders has allowed many scholarship winners to stay in the Philippines and study online, which is one of the reasons why Filipino students' interest in studying in China has dropped sharply.
Philippine master's student Joshua Agpaoa (30 years old), said in an interview with Lianhe Zaobao that he had completed almost two years of master's courses through online teaching, and joked that he seemed to have taken "free online courses" in the past two years.
Agbova completed almost two years of master's degree course through online courses in the Philippines
He said that the challenges faced by online courses are mainly to cooperate with the time difference of international students, sometimes professors are not familiar with online teaching, and the limited interaction between classmates.
Agbova received a Chinese government scholarship in 2020 and studied in China Studies and International Relations courses at Jinan University in Guangzhou. Two of his classmates gave up on enrollment before school started, and another student chose to drop out during the course, because the reason is likely to be unable to enter China.
Yu Qiuxing pointed out that online teaching cannot arouse students' interest in studying in China, and indirectly affects the interest of Filipino students in learning Chinese, and local Chinese education needs are also affected.
She said: "The Chinese authorities are about to begin to relax strict entry controls, but the problem is that air tickets are expensive and it is difficult for students to afford, and there is no allowance in this regard. "
Visiting researcher at the Regional Social and Cultural Research Project of Yusov Isa Southeast Asia Research Institute, said that Thailand is also facing a similar situation, because students who receive Chinese or Thai scholarships still have to spend a lot of money if they go to China to study.
Agbova (right) teaches in an institution in Guangdong, China
Chinese talents cannot receive high rewards in the Thai labor market. For example, the salary of Japanese translators is twice that of Chinese translators, which affects people's motivation to learn Chinese.
Before the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, Agbova served as an art lecturer in different universities in China for four years, and personally experienced the local life and culture.
He said: "Now many Filipinos have a negative impression of China. I suggest that interested juniors seize the opportunity of China's relaxation of entry restrictions for international students and study in China. This is not only to strive for scholarships, but also to be able to experience China personally, understand all aspects of facts, and broaden their horizons."
Visa for foreigners to go to China has been relaxed
It is reported that on August 22, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines has issued the "Notice on the Latest Requirements for Foreigners to Apply for Visa for China".The notice pointed out that according to relevant arrangements, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines has updated the requirements for visa applications for foreigners to go to China as follows:
2. From now on, the embassy will begin to accept X1 visa applications for long-term overseas students who have received academic education. Applicants must hold the "Visa Application Form for Foreign Students to Come to China" (JW201 or JW202 Form), the school admission notice (freshman) or the return certificate (students).
3. For details of the specific visa application requirements, please refer to the "Visa Processing Instructions" attached.
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