Malta’s English Language Teaching (ELT) sector is being affected by the ongoing high rate of visa denials to English language learners from countries outside the European Union, especially those from Brazil, Colombia, Japan and Türkiye.
As a result, the Federation of English Language Organizations in Malta, (FELTOM) estimates that the repercussions will take years to resolve, Schengen.News reports.
CEO of FELTOM, Jessica Rees Jones, revealed to Times of Malta how since the Coronavirus pandemic FELTOM’s schools have been showing remarkable resilience, especially through huge investments to attract learners from new countries outside the EU.
The ELT sector was the very first sector to be impacted by the pandemic yet, our schools continue to struggle to reach pre-pandemic levels. The fact that Malta’s schools are experiencing the highest level of visa denials for students outside the Schengen area is very disheartening and if the situation is not addressed, its impact on the sector is going to be very high.
Schools Losing Hundreds of Thousands in Revenue as Long as Visa Issuies Persist
She said that one of her school members has already reported a loss of 300 student weeks valued at €100,000 in revenue. She added that another smaller school has seen €27,000 in revenues lost from three different Turkish agents.
The ongoing changes to visa application processes by Identity Malta, have caused confusion for everyone, according to FELTOM and other stakeholders.
The authorities continue to acknowledge the ELT sector’s ability to attract students and how the sector continues to support the sustainability of our tourism industry, facts supported by our report which shows a contribution of 9.4 per cent of the total guest nights in 2023.
However, she emphasized that the visa issue persists and the reason behind this is still unknown.
Based on a recent report from the FELTOM, English language learners’ expenditure last year amounted to a total of €155 million.
Malta Offers English Language Teaching (ELT) Permit Valid for 4 Years
In order to operate an English as a Foreign Language School (ELT) in Malta, a license to operate, issued by the ELT Council is required first.
The ELT Permit is valid for four years and it is ssued once the Council agrees that all the required skills are met in line with Legal Notice 221 of 2015.
Among the requirements for the ELT Permit are at least 18 years and are required to hold the following qualifications: a test for English Language Teachers (TELT) certificate issued by the Council and a certificate in the methodology of teaching the English language to speakers of other languages, approved by the Council among others.
