Page 35 - StudyTravel Magazine November 2018 Issue

SECONDARY FOCUS studytravel magaZIne november 2018

inadequate, according to rebekah malvern at Living Nowadays, as chris, highlights, there are far more
Learning Guardianship www.livingenglish.com. options for parents than there were 25 years ago,
“In recent years,” she reports, “[we have] been and AeGIS-accredited guardians represent a small
contacted by many parents who were not registered number of these. “But, by selecting one of 45 AeGIS
with our services asking for help in emergency members, agents, parents and schools are given the
situations. In a number of these circumstances, assurance that students will be given at least the
the arrangements they have put in place with their minimum level of care and safeguarding,” he asserts.
appointed ‘guardians’ – usually a family friend or As its executive offi cer, Yasemin Wigglesworth,
acquaintance – have been ineffective and pupils are explains AeGIS is the authoritative association for
left without the vital support and welfare services inspecting and accrediting guardianship organisations
they require.” throughout the uk. Its main role is carrying out “a
In this context, “regulation is key to setting rigorous programme of inspections, providing peace
minimum standards for the welfare of international of mind to schools and overseas parents that students
students,” contributes Will hume of White house are safe during school holidays”.
Guardians www.whg.eu.com. “Without it, students Yasemin reports that she and AeGIS chair, helen
are vulnerable to exploitation in many ways.” Wright, have both met with the uk’s Department
For Lana, the solution lies in the hands of the for education to raise concerns about the lack of
schools. “I am looking to the uk boarding schools in regulations around guardianships and the hosting of
this country and their associations to raise standards international students in the uk. In addition, she notes
for overseas parents and insist on only AeGIS- that AeGIS has been promoting quality guardianship
accredited guardians,” she declares. through agent training with the British council and
“I was very happy to hear that the Boarding agent-focused events such as St Secondary Focus, as
Schools’ Association (BSA) www.boarding.org.uk well as via local authorities.
joined forces with AeGIS www.aegisuk.net lately to Following the uk’s lead, it is encouraging to see
show their support. I see this as an important fi rst that guardianship organisations in the republic of
step to raising awareness of the need to adopt a zero- Ireland are also moving towards wider accreditation,
tolerance approach to anything less than top-notch with the recent announcement of a new, independent
safeguarding throughout the academic year.” inspection body, Independent Guardianship

Inspectorate cLG, to carry out inspections to accredit
Jimmy Wong, Hong Kong members of the Association of Guardianship providers
in Ireland (AGpI) (see ST Magazine, october 2018,
Overseas Studies Centre page 10, or bit.ly/2mjqofG).

“ultimately, you want to recommend It seems that momentum for better regulation
the [guardianship providers] that you of the sector is growing – something which can
feel you have a lot of trust in to help only be good news for the secondary sector and its
the families.” www.hkosc.com.hk international students. jvs@studytravel.network

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