As more international students arrive, affordable housing and experienced English teachers are in short supply

NEED FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

Language schools are also experiencing an increase in demand from the growing number of international students.

At language school Inlingua, director of studies Chris Driver estimated there has been a 10 per cent year-on-year increase in student population since 2020. The school is undergoing a makeover to accommodate more and bigger classrooms by next year.

In the meantime, the firm has upped class sizes.

Mr Driver said he has noticed a marked increase in the number of Chinese students at the school.

“Before COVID-19, the percentage of Chinese (in) the intensive course students was maybe 30 per cent. Now it’s over 50 per cent,” he said.

Mr Driver has felt the need for skilled teachers qualified to run such intensive courses keenly.

“I have a lot of fresh talent that I can train and develop. But for experienced teachers, (they are) harder to find. We have to put a lot of ads out and we have to look beyond Singapore as well,” he said.

CA International College, which certifies English-language teachers, has also seen an increased demand, said its director Zak Salleh-Chew.

“This year, the surging demand for English teachers is mostly attributable to the influx of Chinese students coming in to study at international schools, private colleges and universities,” he said.