International students enriching province's schools

The provincial government is tapping into a new resource to financially enrich its schools: international students.

There are 470 students studying under the New Brunswick International Student Program for the 2016-17 school year, with applications still coming in for second semester.

When all's said and done, that will represent a 15 per cent increase over last year, said Bruce MacDonald, who oversees the program for the provincial government.

Hannah Wolf, from Germany, attends St. Malachy's High School in Saint John. She likes the schools in New Brunswick better than back home.

She said German schools are strict.

"Teachers here are like, 'Hey dude. What's up?'" the 16-year-old said. "I love it here."

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Year-long tuition costs approximately $10,000, which is divided among the schools, the district and the staff, MacDonald said. Schools have used the money for everything from hot-lunch programs to installing SMART boards.

School districts received close to $2 million from the program last year.

For each full-time international student, a community should see an average investment of $25,000. That's a $9 million injection into the provincial economy, MacDonald said

Students come from from a wide range of countries, including China, Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Spain, Germany and Turkey. Most come to improve their English, while others want to experience a different culture.

Meric Naza, 16, says his parents supported his wish to study abroad and live in the West. While international students can't drink, smoke or drive, the Istanbul native finds it more relaxed and less judgmental in New Brunswick.

"I'm a little bit more free there because I can do whatever I want, when I want, but it's more safe here, and it's not that crowded."

He's one of 30 students at Saint John's Harbour View High School, and he'd like to stay another year.

I'm a little bit more free there because I can do whatever I want when I want, but it's more safe here, and it's not that crowded.- Meric Naza, student fromIstanbul

Lynn MacDonald, international student co-ordinator for Anglophone South School District, said two thirds of the money the district receives from international students goes directly into the schools. But for most people involved with the program, the money is secondary.

Sana Nearing, who helps organize the international students in Saint John, said these students improve schools, not just financially but culturally.

"A lot of Canadians make friends with these international students," she said. "It kind of makes our world a little smaller."