The Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand, Jesus ‘Gary’ Domingo, has taken to Twitter and Facebook this week to accuse the NZ Government of turning a blind eye to ‘education trafficking’ of Filipino students by NZ Private Tertiary Education (PTE) providers and their education agents in the Philippines.
In a series of scathing tweets and Facebook posts over recent days Ambassador Domingo has dispensed with diplomatic language and instead opted for a direct approach to make his point.
His blunt messages are remarkable given that diplomats usually aim to wrap negative messages in layers of diplomatic speak to soften the blow.
What is education trafficking?
Good question.
The ambassador provides the answer with a direct Facebook post:
Twitter campaign
Ambassador Domingo wound up and let fly on Twitter with a series of tweets on 16 October, which seemed to express an increasing level of anger and frustration over the course of the day:
Filipinos – don’t just believe Education Agents – also do your own research before deciding on studying at a particular school.
— AmbaGary Domingo (@AmbaGary) October 16, 2017
Education NZ – will you help us #StopEducationTrafficking or be an accomplice ?
— AmbaGary Domingo (@AmbaGary) October 16, 2017
Can hardly wait to speak to the new NZ Government about Education Trafficking done by NZ Schools and their Agents…
— AmbaGary Domingo (@AmbaGary) October 16, 2017
— AmbaGary Domingo (@AmbaGary) October 16, 2017
I hope NZ does not look at Filipinos as Cash Cows for their Schools …
— AmbaGary Domingo (@AmbaGary) October 16, 2017
Sadly, the head of Education NZ did NOT respond to the issue of BAD EDUCATION AGENTS I RAISED …
— AmbaGary Domingo (@AmbaGary) October 16, 2017
…raising the issue of misrepresenting Education Advisers / Agents @ ASEAN Forum 2017 at AUT…
— AmbaGary Domingo (@AmbaGary) October 16, 2017
So far (as at 18 October) the online conversation is one sided, with Education New Zealand opting not to respond.
The broader context
Ambassador Domingo’s comments on education trafficking come about a week after New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines, Mr David Strachan, and other NZ officials were working hard in the Philippines to push the strong message that potential immigrants and international students who are considering NZ should only use licenced migration advisers, or ‘exempt advisors’. The Philippine Star published an article on the issue by Mr Strachan.
Interestingly the category of ‘exempt advisors’ includes education agents in relation to advice on student visas only.
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