Language schools association calls for COVID wage supplement to be extended till spring

The representative body for English language schools has called on the Government to extend the COVID wage supplement till spring.

The Federation for English Language Teaching Organisations in Malta (FELTOM) said that while it welcomed the Government's recent announcement that the wage supplement had been extended to January, many schools are facing closure if financial assistance is withdrawn, and the number of ELT visitors does not increase significantly.

FELTOM also referred to the "impulsive" decision to close schools early in summer, which the organisation said had had a severe financial impact on its member schools, a claim backed up by a Deloitte study commissioned by the federation itself.

"FELTOM would like to call on Government to consider extending the COVID wage supplement till spring 2022. Terminating the COVID Wage Supplement in January is premature and of concern as it will severely impact already stretched operations," the organisation said.