5,000 Chinese nationals heading for Butuan City next year for one-year English proficiency study 

by Ben Serrano

December 30, 2010

            BUTUAN CITY (PNA) - Some 5,000 Chinese students mostly high school students from mainland China will arrive here in Butuan City next year 2011 for a one year  English proficiency study, the Butuan City Government announced.

            Butuan City number one councilor Ryan Anthony Culima told PNA the coming in of 5,000 Chinese students to Butuan City was made possible through local private group, I-Study International.who made arrangements with three schools here.

            Culima who is Chairman of Peace and Order, Security and Police Matters of the Butuan City Council said local St. Joseph Institute of Technology (SJIT) who had better Speech laboratory facilities had already signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with I-Study International for one-year English Proficiency study with the Chinese students.

            “Two other schools, locally based Fr. Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) and state-owned Caraga State University (CSU) will follow in agreement signing with the Chinese students and I-Study International for the accommodation of the rest of the 5,000 Chinese students who will be arriving first quarter of 2011” Culima enthusiastically said.

            Under such agreement, said foreign students will pay tuition fees and other school fees advanced for one year and jointly developed curriculum for English proficiency that best fit the Chinese students to be submitted to the Commission on Higher Education or CHED for innovations, corrections and approval.

            Culima said that since the number of foreign Chinese students to stay here in Butuan City is quite a large number, the Butuan City Government offered a one place, one stay dormitories for the Chinese students where there is easy access to stores, clinics or hospitals, sports, recreation and study facilities.

            “We already offered the 36 hectares Butuan City Government property in Barangay Tiniwisan where there is already huge buildings that be converted temporarily as dormitories and the large areas to be establish as sports and recreation facilities. This will be rented by them for one year an extra income for the City Government. The Chinese students are now studying our proposal as they already agreed by principle”, Culima said.

            Butuan Vice Mayor Atty. Lawrence Fortun confirmed that Butuan City Government through Mayor Amante consulted Caraga Police Regional Director Chief Supt. Reynaldo S. Rafal for provision of security and other matters for the 5,000 Chiense students who will be arriving Butuan City first quarter of 2011. (PNA/Ben Serrano)