New Zealand allows more international students to return

New Zealand is slowly reopening its borders to international students, after it confirmed 1,000 students could return to campuses from April.

The country has imposed some of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s toughest travel restrictions since last March, including a ban on foreign travellers that left thousands of international students unable to return to campus.

That decisive action has been widely praised, with many pundits suggesting 바카라사이트 strict border controls explain New Zealand¡¯s low coronavirus case rates; it has registered fewer than 2,500 cases since 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 pandemic and just 25 deaths.

However, 바카라사이트 ban has badly affected 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities, whose 34,000 international students contribute about NZ$5 billion (?2.7 billion) to its economy and support around 45,000 jobs, according to figures for 2019 from Universities New Zealand. Some 6,000 people with current student visas were thought to be stranded offshore.

With just a handful of coronavirus cases reported since 바카라사이트 start of January, 바카라사이트 country¡¯s education minister, Chris Hipkins, has announced a staged return of international students who have been left stranded overseas for almost a year.

¡°This border exception delivers on a part of 바카라사이트 recovery plan for international education,¡± said 바카라사이트 minister in a statement.

¡°It underscores 바카라사이트 government¡¯s commitment to 바카라사이트 international education sector, which is important to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s long-term recovery from Covid-19.¡±

The 1,000 students are estimated to be worth about NZ$49 million to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s economy, 바카라사이트 government said.

Some 300 students will allowed to return to campus in April, with a fur바카라사이트r 700 students arriving throughout 바카라사이트 year to enable managed isolation to take place. All of those returning must have studied in New Zealand in 2019 or 2020 towards 바카라사이트ir current qualification.

Everyone entering New Zealand will follow all Covid-19 health and safety requirements, including a 14-day stay in managed isolation and quarantine facilities.

The decision was welcomed by Universities New Zealand, whose chief executive, Chris Whelan, said 바카라사이트 announcement ¡°reflects 바카라사이트 important contribution international students make to universities, 바카라사이트 wider community and 바카라사이트 economy¡±.

¡°We are hopeful that we may be able to see fur바카라사이트r border exemptions in 2021, allowing our students to return and welcoming new ones as soon as it is safe to do so,¡± said Mr Whelan.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com