Language schools mulling legal action

The Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations is considering whether to institute legal action, holding the Transport Federation liable for damages it has suffered and is still suffering as a result of the transport strike.

Speaking to The Times, federation president Andrew Mangion confirmed that the federation had met its lawyers over the matter. The members are presently quantifying the damage caused so far. This could run into several thousand euros. He said the industry had been negatively impacted by the strikes and, particularly, the violence.

A number of schools who spoke to The Times yesterday complained that thousands of students were not able to get to school and, as a result, lessons had to be cancelled and teachers sent home. Thousands of students also had to make their own way to their schools, sometimes even walking for up to two hours just to get to schools only to find out that the lesson has been cancelled.

The schools said several agents and students have complained about the situation. They received calls from parents of students presently in Malta who are concerned about the safety and security of their children.

Tough action was needed to protect their interests as schools, especially after having worked hard to turn Malta into a major language teaching destination.

The federation said it deplored all acts of violence by the striking drivers as well as all attempts to block roads, threaten drivers, students and tourists, block access to the airport, disturb the 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," the federation said.