7427ea21079d15fda31501.jpg (Photo : IC)
While Canada has emerged as the top choice for Chinese high school students seeking international education experience, the U.S. is not far behind.
However, research has revealed that the two North American nations are typically preferred by parents based upon the sex of the student.
Data from the 2014 Annual Report of the Development of Chinese Students Studying Abroad places 31.85 percent of Chinese students in Canadian schools in the previous seven years.
Released on Dec. 18, Thursday, the report's U.S. figures are not significantly different, with a 30.58 percentage. Furthermore, last year's New York Times report on the subject revealed a major rise in the number of Chinese high school students studying in the U.S. between the years 2003 and 2013, from 433 to 26,919.
A flexible and long-term visa option has led to Canada's ultimate ranking, as the government has designed a category that allows for numerous border crossings during a decade-long duration. Experience has shown that concerned parents will accompany their teenage children to overseas locations and Canada's 10-year visa provides convenience in such situations.
However, the sex of students is also relevant, as Chinese parents have adopted a mindset whereby females are considered more suitable for Canada, while males for the U.S. The underlying reasoning states that the perceived stability and peacefulness of the former makes it more suitable for daughters, while parents believe that sons will thrive in the competitive and more intensive American environment.
The Education International Cooperation Group consultancy also studied the period from 2007 to 2014, and found that 90 percent of all Chinese high school students selected either Canada, the U.S., Australia or the United Kingdom for overseas high school placements.
