Incidents involving students 'must be seen in perspective'

Recent incidents involving English language students must be seen in perspective of the tens of thousands who visit Malta every year, the Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations Malta has insisted.

Feltom president Alex Fenech also called on authorities to ensure that laws were observed.

As the recognised association of English language schools on the islands, Feltom’s 15 members represent around three-quarters of foreign students enrolling for courses at licensed EFL centres. Malta’s EFL industry is believed to be worth up to €100 million.

Language students hit the headlines this month: on Monday four Italians, including a 16-year-old, were conditionally discharged and warned by a magistrate after they admitted stealing electronic items and cash from rooms at a Bugibba guesthouse.

On Monday morning, two Spanish students turned violent and resisted arrest after they were told by their teachers that they would be sent home for unacceptable behaviour. One of the two 17-year-olds admitted to damaging property at the Coastline Hotel in Salina. On July 13, a 16-year-old Russian student was charged with the attempted murder of two Maltese teenagers when he allegedly stabbed them during an argument in Bugibba the previous day.

A 15-year-old Russian girl fell five storeys to her death on July 10 when she attempted to jump from one balcony to another at the Topaz Hotel in St Paul’s Bay. Four Dutch students were hurt, one seriously, when Martin Micallef ran them over with his car along the Coast Road in Baħar iċĊagħaq on Monday evening. Mr Micallef was charged with dangerous driving.

“Feltom is concerned about any incidents involving students, however, they must be seen in perspective,” Mr Fenech said. “Last year, Malta attracted almost 70,000 students who spent part of their visit learning English. The vast majority had an enjoyable visit. It is a minute numberwhoareinvolvedinanykind of incident but these are the ones who make the news.

“There is a perception that foreign young people are all students. This is inaccurate,” he emphasised. “Malta is promoting its nightlife and trying to attract younger visitors.”

“Young people, be they Maltese or foreign, have a tendency to be boisterous and less considerate of their surroundings. Since Malta’s tourist clientele is changing, perhaps it is time to adapt the infrastructure to accommodate it.”

Mr Fenech added that a young girl giving little thought to her own safety when she tried to break a curfew is a tragedy which could have happened anywhere – a similar incident has taken place in Spain involving a young Briton. The hit and run accident involving four Dutch visitors was more a reflection of the lack of road safety provisions and discipline on Maltese roads, Mr Fenech said.

Feltom, Mr Fenech added, had frequently called for increased police presence in areas with high tourist numbers, but was often told there were insufficient human resources to provide it.

“Schools are not law enforcers,” Mr Fenech pointed out. “They have no legal power to be. When visitors break the law in Malta, it is not the service provider which should be held accountable for their behaviour.

“Every effort is made to provide a programme of activities for minor students to ensure that they are kept occupied and supervised for most of their stay.”

Mr Fenech said Feltom was likely to discuss the incidents involving the Italian and the Russian boys with authorities in the coming days. He said he was not in a position to reply on whether the Italians were allowed to continue their course.

The president pointed out that other than the two Russians and one Italian, the students involved in the incidents were all adults. Ultimately, he said, it was the parents who were responsible for their children.

“Schools try to avoid contacting parents,” Mr Fenech continued. “However, in cases where the behaviour does not improve, parents are called to avoid further trouble. Usually students’ behaviour tends to improve, but in certain cases schools are left with no option but to send the students home.”

It has been argued that younger students need to be supervised better and that their entertainment programme is allowing excesses, particularly access to alcohol.

Had Feltom raised this issue with schools?

“Feltom is always looking to raise standards: Member schools all provide training for their group leaders, however, we are in favour of introducing more comprehensive training for all leaders,” Mr Fenech said. “The sale of alcohol to those under 17 is not just a problem affecting young foreign students, but also Maltese youth. The authorities need to clamp down on law breakers who sell alcohol to youngsters.

“The Federation is not in favour of young students frequenting adult entertainment areas. Feltom organises twice-weekly alcohol-free parties for language students at venues well away from Paceville in a safe, monitored environment.”

Some believed that language students’ place was not in hotels or guest houses but rather in school-run accommodation.MrFenechpointed out that 60 per cent of visitors enrolling in language courses were adults – and tourists.

“We should not discriminate against and label particular tourists because they spend three hours a day attending language courses,” Mr Fenech emphasised. “Many schools run their own supervised accommodation and some work together to share hotels which are solely for the use of students during the peak months. Most minor students are not placed in guesthouses but with host families or in supervised school accommodation.”