Language schools urge government to restore law and order

The federation representing language schools has urged the government to restore law and order, complaining that the public transport strike is having a serious impact on the language schools.

"As a result of the suspension of transport services many schools have had to cancel pre-booked and pre-paid tours and excursions to Malta’s places of interest, and any pre-paid evening activities which require some form of transport," the federation said.

"Schools have been unable to provide transport for students who are living some distance from their place of learning. This has resulted in many students walking to school for up to 2 hours in the heat of the day. Several thousand other students, who would normally use private transport, were unable to get to their school on Tuesday and the situation has not been much better on Wednesday.

This unacceptable situation is beginning to alarm clients and foreign agents who are starting to complain at the prolonged inconvenience and disruption being experienced. Schools and agents are also raising concerns about the safety of their clients while in Malta."

The federation said it deplored all acts of violence perpetrated by the striking drivers as well as all attempts to block roads, threaten drivers, students and tourists, block access to the airport, disturb public peace and generally taint Malta’s image.

"Such actions are doing irreparable harm to the hard earned image of Malta as a safe language travel and tourist destination and are also threatening the livelihoods of thousands of hard working Maltese citizens.

FELTOM calls on the government to use all methods possible to restore full law and order to the country and to take action against anyone breaking the laws of the land," the federation said.