The province is also implementing minimum language requirements to address exploitative practices within the system. Selina Robinson, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, emphasized the need for this freeze to rectify shortcomings in the international education system, which she stated has not been functioning optimally.

Selina Robinson stated that the province initiated an examination of the system in March, uncovering issues such as “substandard education, insufficient instructors,” and private institutions deterring students from filing formal complaints. Robinson shared an account of a student whose family in India saved money for her to receive a “quality education” in British Columbia. Upon arrival, however, she discovered that the entire course would be conducted online, contrary to the promised in-class instruction. Robinson emphasized the need to prevent misleading practices by addressing such bad actors in the system.

Selina Robinson additionally disclosed that British Columbia would implement minimum language requirements at private institutions, aiming to ensure that international students are adequately prepared before arriving in the province. Detailed information regarding the language requirement is expected to be released in March, as ongoing efforts are being made to finalize the specifics. Out of the 175,000 international post-secondary students in B.C. from over 150 countries, approximately 54 percent are enrolled in private institutions. The province is home to 280 private schools, with 80 percent of them located in the Lower Mainland.