Malta’s English language schools offer sponsorships for displaced Ukrainian nationals

FELTOM, the Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations Malta has this week reached out to the Ukrainian Honorary Consulate to offer its support, following the breakout of war in Ukraine.

As a gesture of goodwill, its member schools are offering sponsorships of English language courses to any displaced Ukrainian nationals who fled their war-torn country and reached the safety of our shores, to help them integrate into society.

FELTOM expressed its concern about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and hopes that a peaceful solution may be reached imminently.

On 9th March, the second week of the conflict, Prime Minister Robert Abela confirmed that Malta had taken in 26 Ukrainian refugees fleeing the crisis. It is unclear how many more have arrived since then.

Malta is a highly popular destination for those wishing to learn English as a foreign language.

Indeed, in 2019 – before the pandemic hit, National Statistics Office data shows that 83,610 students visited Malta to attend one of its many English language schools.

Four weeks into Russia’s war against Ukraine, Malta’s language school sector is likely to be impacted with Europe having closed its airspace to Russian airlines and vice versa.

In 2019, Russian students coming to Malta to learn English made up 7.2 per cent of the entire market share, an increase of 11.1 per cent from the year before. Close to 6,000 students from Russia came to Malta that year, making it the fourth biggest source market for the country.

The summer months of July to September remain the peak months for learning English in Malta, however bookings would often be made from by winter to early spring for students to secure their place.

Malta’s language school sector will be counting on an improved 2022 summer season, after last summer authorities abruptly singled them out by ordering their closure over a spike in cases.