Andrew Mangion, president, Feltom, Sliema
Feltom's commitment towards the community
With reference to the letter titled Raucous English Language Students by Josette DeGabriele, the Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations in Malta (Feltom) is committed towards the community and has done its best to ensure its well-being.
Beyond its educational duties, Feltom is actually proactive in a number of ways in an attempt to mitigate any impact that part of the industry may have on the local community. In fact, in collaboration with the Malta Tourism Authority, Feltom was involved in developing a student guide which has specific sections on student behaviour in our country.
Feltom's commitment to the community's well-being also includes organising regular non-alcoholic activities in venues away from the Paceville/St Julians area.
Feltom is also in regular contact with the Ministry for Tourism and the MTA and actively participates in weekly discussion meetings with the key stake-holders, the Ministry for Tourism, the MTA, the Police Force, the MHRA and the GRTU. Before the beginning of the high season, Feltom has also held various meetings with the Sliema, St Julians, Swieqi and Pembroke local councils to openly discuss any issues in a joint effort to try to find any possible solution. The federation maintains this dialogue with the community through the local councils and will continue to discuss any points made through the right channels.
There are 50 licensed schools in Malta and Gozo and of these the federation represents 16. For schools to be accepted by the federation they undergo a rigorous accreditation scheme. This process ensures consistent high standards for member schools and includes, among the many measures, directives for student conduct, and standards for facilities, staff and training.
It should also be noted that more than 57 per cent of language students in Malta are over 18, but minor students have a closely-monitored curfew time, which means that they should be at their accommodation by specified times and measures are taken when they are not.
Popular Stories
In Discussion
6 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Adrian Bajada
Jul 30th 2008, 18:29
Just for curiosity is the Booklet printed in English??? Or is it printed in different languages??
The curfew makes no sense at all as they still come in what ever time they want. Must also say that the Host Family can't go looking for them in Paceville during the night. But we musn't put the blame on the schools or Feltom etc alone. The biggest problem are these greedy Bars and Clubs who sell the Booze to the Minors. Do these minoe foreign students carry some sort of ID Card??
S Mizzi
Jul 30th 2008, 16:37
If the issue was not so tragic this letter could be construed as a comical response to the original complaint....put your money where your mouth is and do something about this disgrace. It's to your own advantage as foreign reporters/educational auditors di pick up on this pitiful state of affairs in Malta and could probably blacklist Malta as a destination to 'learn' english.
Joseph Cauchi
Jul 30th 2008, 14:38
@Lucy Pace Gouder:
MALTESE GEMGEM, AS USUAL!!!!!
WHY CAN'T PEOPLE LIKE YOU EVER GIVE UP.
STOP MOANING, MOANING, MOANING AND MOANING.....
hadrian agius
Jul 30th 2008, 14:07
I think it's about time a 'ANTI STUDENTS ORGANIZATION' be formed in Malta to help us residents against these hooligans, their disgusting behaviour and to legally protect us against all the damage they are causing to our property and cars. FELTOM should be made liable to all these damages. I'm sure some lawyers will be very eager to help because some of them i'm sure are being woken up at night by these hooligans. It is not just Sliema and St.Julian's who have this problem. I live in Msida and we have the same problem as well and it's getting worse every year.
HADRIAN AGIUS
Jul 30th 2008, 13:00
BLA BLA BLA!!!!!!
Lucy PG
Jul 30th 2008, 11:56
Last night, as in various nights during the summer, my parents were abruptly woken up by teenage students breaking car mirrors, jumping on cars, causing damage and being generally quite a niusance.
I understand that schools cannot be held solely responsible for the underage students as Paceville is there for everyone. But something must be done. Drinking and partying all night cannot possibly be good for their education... I know of teachers who complain that their students sleep in class. Of course they do! They are out till 6-7am every night!!!
The people of Sliema are having their cars ruined every summer by "students". I think it's time this stops. And with all due respect, a booklet is not going to help! And the curfews are obviously not being enforced!