Ozford College Loses License Over Child Safety

0:00It's March 26th. Welcome in. This is Sydney News Today, where local news meets AI. Osprey College and Melbourne Central Business District just lost its license to offer secondary classes to international students over child safety, issues. The Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority pulled the plug last week, citing failures in student accommodation, support, welfare, and child safety standards. This came after the school posted Melbourne's lowest median BCE score last year, and 19, compared to the statewide average of 30. The college ran year 10, 11, and 12 programs, mainly for unaccompanied students from mainland China, who live with local homestay families. More than 50 students had to switch schools quickly, but officials worked with education departments to place them elsewhere and refund unused. School leaders called it a case of getting trapped in regulatory problems, forcing a permanent shutdown of high school operations, and costing aid, teachers their jobs.

1:01Education agents noted the stress on families, while student representatives highlighted how vulnerable miners are, without parents nearby. Meanwhile, Osprey keeps running its university level courses and English programs. The move underscores stricter oversight in Australia's international education sector, where overseas school visas have dropped from nearly 17,000 in 2007-2008 to about 9,000 this year. Child safety remains a top priority for regulators, reminding everyone in the industry to prioritize student well-being amid shifting markets and economic contributions from these programs.