Language concerns in education pathways to migration

Columnist's note: As we continue discussing migration in general and educational migration in particular, it is important to include those directly involved in the process. With this in mind, I am happy and proud to have Kim Tiu Selorio, a colleague in the broad industry of migration, as my guest columnist for today. He has designed innovative ways for Filipinos to take on education pathways for migration to other countries, and his points and perspectives are definitely worth contemplating as we continue discussing language concerns in migratory contexts.

WITH the Philippines being a "migratory population," i.e., a country with a culture of migration, more Filipinos are considering opportunities to study abroad year after year. In 2023 alone, over 80,000 Filipino students left for Canada and Australia — a 500-percent increase from the previous year. Education pathways, especially to English-using destinations, gained popularity when the governments of destination countries began providing foreign students with unlimited working rights to curb domestic employment challenges.