Juan Ameen
Language schools place onus on police to control students
Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
English language schools have no control over the large crowds of misbehaving, mostly Spanish, students who instead should be controlled by a stronger police presence, according to the language schools’ federation.
A substantial part of the problem in the roads was caused by adult Spanish visitors who came to study English in Malta, said Alex Fenech, president of the Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations Malta.
Mr Fenech was reacting to several complaints in the media about rowdy students causing trouble to residents in areas such as Sliema, Swieqi and Paceville.
He insisted more police presence was necessary to control students’ behaviour on the street and said Feltom had tried to pre-empt the situation in April with the police because it foresaw a busy summer ahead.
However, they were told the police were understaffed.
“In summer, which is when the problems peak, the police tell us that they are taken up with the village feasts in the weekends – the police are the ultimate authority in the streets,” he said.
The federation, which represents 16 of the 38 licensed English language schools in Malta and Gozo, had also approached the Spanish Embassy in May to tackle the problem. This summer Spanish students received a letter from the embassy on their arrival reminding them to respect local laws and customs.
“We are trying to do something about it,” Mr Fenech said.
If all else failed and the situation did not improve, Feltom planned to take up the matter with the government.
In 2009, more than 5,500 Spanish students aged between 18 and 25 years came to Malta and another 1,000 under 18.
Mr Fenech, who is also the owner of a language school in Swieqi, said he too received many complaints from residents about the Spanish students.
“We even have problems within the school – they are rowdy and dirty and cause trouble and this year we have already expelled three,” he said.
Schools had the legal authority to expel students but had no right to send them back home if they were adults, he added, saying that was the domain of the courts if a crime was involved.
He insisted language schools did not have control over what happened outside their property and the trouble was usually caused by students who were actually adults.
Although there was misconception that a “stereotypical” English language student was a minor, 60 per cent of the 69,000 language students who came to Malta last year were over 18 years of age, he said. These were legally accountable for their behaviour.
Minors had strict curfews but adults could not have these imposed on them and English language schools and hotels had no legal authority to “dictate” how adult visitors spent their time.
Also, it was not fair that language schools shouldered all the blame. “Schools take care of their students during school hours, the accommodation takes care of their property and the police should take care of the street,” he said.
Although over the years an increasing number of students have been staying at hotels as opposed to living with host families, Mr Fenech does not believe this is the main reason behind the higher number of complaints.
“I agree to a certain point. But if you have groups of students who leave their accommodation at 11 p.m. to go to Paceville, walking through residential areas, then they obviously will be noisy and disturb the residents,” he said.
Mr Fenech admitted it was an awkward situation and said he did not blame the residents for complaining, especially if they called the police who did not turn up.
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Charmaine Marmara'
Aug 21st 2010, 19:57
la hadd mu kapaci jikkontrolla l istudenti iggibuwomx , mux il hin kollu kullimkien invasat bijom ...u dawn nghid jien x hin jistudjawh l ingliz fuq kollox ?? ghax taddi mnejn taddi dejjem mitluqin ma l art u jqejqu l kulhadd ikunu....mux bizejjed konna fgati aw malta issa anqas tista timxi fuq bankina bijom.....and i wonder how that spanish tourist will feel after reading this......English language schools have no control over the large crowds of misbehaving, mostly Spanish, students who instead should be controlled by a stronger police presence, according to the language schools’ federation ....and this ....Mr Fenech, who is also the owner of a language school in Swieqi, said he too received many complaints from residents about the Spanish students.
“We even have problems within the school – they are rowdy and dirty and cause trouble and this year we have already expelled three,” dirty and rowdy thats what they are for real....sorry spain i thought u were better than that .....
Karl Consiglio
Aug 21st 2010, 17:40
For a a start we should at least have posters up in language schools and hotels that they are expected to respect residents when they are out to party at night, we could also have signs on the street to respect residents beyond certain points. And its a joke to say that our police force are to busy to their duty where necessary because they are busy with the local village feast. Mela vera ghadna lura.
MBorg
Aug 21st 2010, 17:45
I might be wrong , but wern't you the one who made fun of the police when they arrested some students in St Julians Bay? Are you angry because it is now closer to home ?
Judith Thomas
Aug 21st 2010, 15:15
Judith Thomas
@Mr. A. Fenech
Correct me if I'm wrong, but most of these Spanish students who we are hosting get EU1800 approx from their government as a subsidy, on condition they get their certificate from the school, after sitting for an exam. If the schools witheld this certificate, the students would have to pay all their own expenses. PLEASE do not tell me that after their Paceville nights they come to school to learn - most would not be fit to stay awake, let alone improve their English enough to pass their test. If the test is made so easy as to make it possible for all to pass, then Malta would be made a laughing stock where education is concerned. Mr Fenech, there are always 2 ways to skin a rabbit.
MBorg
Aug 21st 2010, 14:35
Something must be done , the way these Spanish students behave has to change.
Does Ms Reymunda Cuesta who made such a fuss at the way a driver acted know that while she was " shocked and angry " the whole of Malta is Shocked,, Angry and Disgusted at the way her fellow country men are acting in our country,.
She managed to get an apology and a complimentary holiday fom the tourism authority because of the incident. Is the Spanish Embassy in Malta going to hand out something to us Maltese to make up for the way these Spanish louts are behaving ? How about paying the St Julians council a part of what they have to fork out to clean the beach after them ?
If these students cannot be controlled their bookings by the Language Schools shoud be refused.
W Spencer
Aug 21st 2010, 18:39
Would it not be more logical for the Spanish students to attend Language Schools in the UK to learn English ??
Or would that upset the people who are making money out of the students staying in Malta ?
E. Azzopardi
Aug 21st 2010, 14:33
Halleluja! We have now recognised that there are complaints and not a few of them. And this from FELTOM itself. Thank God for this because before solving a problem you need to recognise that there IS a problem. It does not mean that this will be solved. Far from it, but it is a start. Whether we now grind to a halt remains to be seen. But if there is no will we shall be back again next year and we shall all be getting the same flack and saying the same old things. The excuses or reasons given are of no concern to the citizens. Citizens need to be proctected. That is why we pay taxes.
Also, better late than never I suppose. It is now time for them to start going back home.
MTA and MHRA please note.
T Camilleri
Aug 21st 2010, 13:43
Mr Fenech you are choosing them. You are responsible for them. You should make sure that they are kept on your premises and not allowed to cause problems to residents. If not then stop bringing them because everyone is fed up with them and with the language schools.
J. J. Borg
Aug 21st 2010, 15:45
U tghid mhux se jsakkruhom gewwa wara li jispiccaw il-lezzjonijiet! Mela se naqaw fir-ridikolu issa?
T Camilleri
Aug 21st 2010, 16:53
J. J. Borg suppost li jkollhom x'jaghmlu ħafna biex jitghallmu l-Ingliz fi zmien 6 gimghat mhux hekk? Mela ma jinghatawx x'jistudjaw meta ma jkunux l-iskola?
John Falzon
Aug 21st 2010, 13:41
Mr Fenech you are shooting yourself in the foot by being evasive and complacent. The situation has already got out of hand. What are you waiting for, tempers are already stretched. If we have an accident, the industry as a whole will get a bad reputation and your eventual business will suffer. You already know that these young people are rowdy, cause trouble, dirty and last but not least Spanish….for the love of God do something about it. These are tourists who do not come here by chance. They are brought here in groups mixing with other groups with your schools serving as a catalyst for this mayhem. I think that it is very unfair that the likes of you are loading the police unnecessarily whilst you are netting the profits. I think it would be fair for the government to introduce a tax on this industry to make good for the additional police services that are needed. This is typical Maltese mentality were people profit to the detriment of others!
Franco Farrugia
Aug 21st 2010, 11:35
Mr Alex Fenech - It is very easy to pass on the buck. I look at it differently. It is in your interest to ensure that things run smoothly. You shouldn't be presiding over a federation of language schools that are making lots of profit, while at the same time expecting the State, or rather, the taxpayer, to cover expenses over disciplining your clients - and this, through the local police! That is extremely unfair of you.
I think that otherwise, the State should demand compensation through the schools and through the host-families (hence bringing up the expenses, why not!) for recruiting extra police to man the streets where your students converge.
But this is not the ideal thing. Ideally, schools should be 'schools', that is to say, they should realise their HOLISTIC responsbily rather than merely 'teaching' English to the students.
In conclusion: do not simply brush this off your shoulders and putting it on the Police because a) it is grossly unfair to expect the taxpayer to cover your problems and b) it will backfire - on you!
a conti
Aug 21st 2010, 13:06
Since when should the police not be responsible for tourists' conduct in the street????? Language students are tourists who choose to learn English as well as holiday. Not that its relevant, but yes, language schools make up part of the 'tax payers' you refer to.
Samantha Grima
Aug 21st 2010, 13:45
a conti better without their tax contribution than all this riff-raff coming and causing us so many problems. Can you tell us what interests you have in the English language schools and hosting students?
Phil Pryce
Aug 21st 2010, 13:50
Are football clubs responsible for the behaviour of fans outside the football ground? Are travel agents responsible for their client's conduct when on package tours? Both these organisations make profits but no-one expects them to 'police' their clients when off the premises!
John Falzon
Aug 21st 2010, 14:12
A.Conti….Oh come on get real!...I can mention a 101 business models that pay taxes and non of them cause any pressure on the community. This is not the same, you are mixing one thing with another (maybe convieniently).
a conti
Aug 21st 2010, 14:13
@ Samantha Grima - your comment is not relevant to my question...why should the state/police not be responsible for what goes on the streets????
Samantha Grima
Aug 21st 2010, 16:51
a conti of course it is relevant. I never said that the police should not be responsible but it should also be the responsibility of the language schools to see whom they are bringing over. Have you or the language schools ever asked about the background of the applicants, whether they have been in trouble with the police of authorities, their school records, or would you accept any riff-raff, scum and any low life that applies as would appear to be the case?