South Korea swine flu may hit enrolments

International student numbers from South Korea could fall drastically because of the swine flu outbreak there, a New Zealand intermediate school principal has warned after returning from a trip to Seoul.

Despite having confirmed enrolments from 36 students, only two arrived last week through Bona School, a Korean international student agency which places students at intermediate and high schools on the North Shore.

Schools, especially on Auckland's North Shore where South Korean numbers are the highest, will be hardest hit if there are any significant drop of student numbers from the country, says the principal of Takapuna Normal Intermediate, Owen Alexander.

With a decline in school donations because of the recession and a lack of Government funding, New Zealand schools are "absolutely dependent" on the fees paid by international students, he says.

"Any drop will have a huge impact, and that's the reality for most New Zealand schools. More than 40 per cent of our school income comes from international students," Mr Alexander said.

According to Statistics New Zealand, international students spent $142 million on tuition and related fees last year, and students from South Korea were the largest contributors in both 2007 and 2008.

More than 100 people have died from swine flu in Seoul since mid-August, and the Government has this month raised the flu alert to the highest "red" level to reflect the rapid spread of H1N1 in the country, the Korea Herald reports.

"With the disease pandemic and the upcoming winter, it is a case of wait and see for many Korean parents even though most are aware there are very few swine flu cases in New Zealand," said Mr Alexander, who was in Seoul a fortnight ago to meet parents of potential students.

Auckland Korean Society vice-president Audrey Chung said many Korean parents were cautious about sending their children overseas in case they contracted H1N1.

"It has nothing to do with being worried about swine flu in New Zealand, but as parents, they worry that they won't be there for their child should they fall sick, so they don't want to send their children anywhere," said Ms Chung.

She didn't think there was anything New Zealand authorities or schools could do to convince these parents to "let go" at this time.