An international school based on the school year in the Northern Hemisphere will open in Carine next month, the first of its kind in Perth.
An international school based on the school year in the Northern Hemisphere will open in Carine next month, the first of its kind in Perth.
The Australian School for International Education is the result of months of planning and effort by a group of parents, all expatriates from the Northern Hemisphere, who work in the state’s oil and gas industry.
The school will be funded through a mix of federal and state government grants, company sponsorship and fees, and will employ 15 staff.
School principal Rob Hassell said the education facility had 60 enrolments with an even spread from pre-kindergarten to year 12.
“We are aiming for about 400 to 500 enrolments and 100 boarders,” he said. “We are leasing the Carine TAFE building from the Department of Education and looking for something more permanent. It will be the first of its kind in WA and will provide education for pre-kindergarten to year 12.”
Mr Hassell has been involved in international education for nine years in the Philippines, Indonesia and China. He said he recognised “a real need” for a school like ASIE in Perth after working at Guildford Grammar and Lake Joondalup Baptist College and witnessing the difficulties faced by international students.
ASIE is unique because the school is based on the Northern Hemisphere school year and has an international learning program.
The system allows students to continue studies without the worry of subject or time changes and to slot back into their country of origin and its school year and system when their parents return home.
Mr Hassell said the school was important to WA’s international business commu-nity and for those who decided to continue their studies in Australia because it provided academic standards accepted by local and interstate academic institutions.
ASIE is also important for the growing number of expatriates who are coming to Perth and for the companies that employ them.
Companies financially supporting the school include Coneco Phillips, Chevron Texaco and Woodside.
Chevron Texaco managing director Jay Johnson, who is chairman of the school’s board, said the school catered for students who wished to qualify for US university entrance, or entrance to universities overseas and in Australia.
“Families relocating to Perth from the Northern Hemisphere often find it difficult to transfer to the Australian system,” he said. “This lack of choice is a challenge for the resources industry. With the number of resources projects and the skills shortage, the industry has to recruit outside Australia for engineers and other professionals for multi-year assignments. We’ve lost some good potential recruits.”