Page 6 - StudyTravel Magazine September/October 2021 Issue

wOrldwIde

Associations pressure governments
as frustrations grow
lAnguAge
ppeals to government from by the authorities. Rest assured that Kai Japanese Language School www.
industry associations have ELT schools have invested enormous kaij.jp led a new association aimed at
Astepped up, amid frustration at resources in terms of time, money, getting the government to reopen to
the handling of the sector in Malta, manpower and materials so that their international students.
the UK and Japan in particular. schools operate within the parameters The group created a https://
The government of Malta angered of these guidelines.” bit.ly/37akYp7 educationisnottourism.com website
schools and agents in July when it In the UK, English UK www. where students can share stories
closed all ELT schools at short notice englishuk.com organised a ‘Save UK about the impact that the prolonged
and announced that all unvaccinated ELT’ protest in Westminster to call on border closure has had on their lives,
arrivals would need to quarantine in a the government to provide business and these will be used for lobbying.
designated hotel for 14 days. The move rates relief equally across the country The mission statement on the
followed a spike in cases, some of and other targeted support measures. website says, “Many of these young
which were attributed to ELT students. Huan Japes, Membership Director, people have been waiting to enter
Prior to the closure, Malta had called on MPs to protect the sector since April 2020 after years of careful
been courting students with a €300 and said, “Due to restrictions, the preparations and in some cases even
voucher promotion. industry has been denied consistent after quitting their jobs or giving up
Agency associations Ialca https:// support from government and yet their homes. The purpose of these
ialca.it (Italy) and Abelio www.abelio. it is unable to trade at anything like students is to learn Japanese or study
org (Belgium) wrote to StudyTravel normal volumes.” He added, “We will in Japan in order to form meaningful
Magazine to express concerns about keep fighting and campaigning for this relationships with the country and its
young learners already on the island, industry because we believe in it and people, which ultimately benefits the
the difficult situation that schools we want it to thrive.” bit.ly/3rt8eTH Japanese economy and intercultural
were placed in despite following all In Japan, inbound agency Go!Go! relations with the rest of the world.”
protocols, and the long-term impact Nihon https://gogonihon.com and Read more at: bit.ly/3zvl6eC
on agents and Malta’s reputation.
Malta’s ELT association FELTOM
http://feltom.com said members
were “unprepared and shocked” by the
government’s “unexpected and rigid
decision to close down ELT schools”.
FELTOM said, “Our member schools
have, under the constant direction
of, and collaboration with, Public
Health, implemented and followed
the rules and guidelines as outlined

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