Page 12 - ELG2107 Jul Issue 476

BUSINESS NEWS .

Student numbers tumble

Survey after survey shows the damage Covid has wreaked on the EFL industry

e first reported as compared to 415 centres in At the time of
the (unsurprising) 2019. There were 83,446 students writing, Australia’s
massive drop in enrolled for member courses, but borders are closed
WEnglish language this number fell by 83.6% as the to international
students coming to the UK during pandemic took hold. Due to the students and aren’t
2020 on the EL Gazette website fall in students, 32 centres closed. expected to fully PHOTO BY ADAM VEGA FROM PIXABAY
(21 May 2021). Here we take a Of the enrolled students, 49% open again to them
deeper look into the full extent of had face-to-face classes; 31% had until mid-2022,
the downturn. signed up for face-to-face classes though there is talk
but ended up having a mix of both of a gradual phasing
At the time of face-to-face and online lessons, in programme from
late 2021.
and a further 20% had all their
writing, Australia’s classes online, 16% of them from It’s a similarly
borders are closed outside the UK. a comparison, bleak picture in Canada, which the UK and Canada are that both
are poised for a strong rebound
had previously been jostling into
To
give
to international Australia’s English Language the third most popular destination once travel opens up again, with
students and aren’t Intensive Courses for Overseas for English language students. the USA hard on their heels. This
is an almost complete 180° shift
In 2020, student numbers were
Students (ELICOS) enrolment
expected to fully was down by 68% in the final down 56% when compared to in agent perceptions, which now
open again to them quarter of 2020 compared to the 2019. Unlike Australia, however, sees the latter country as ‘warm
Canada is allowing international
same quarter in 2019, according
and welcoming’.
until mid-2022 to a Market Intelligence students to enter for the autumn While there is undoubtedly
for International Student 2021 term providing they follow pent-up inclination to take up
Recruitment survey from ICEF. its testing and quarantine rules. in-country English language
According to the English UK The survey also found that 50% A recent Navitas Agent courses, it may yet be some time
Students Statistics Report 2021, it of these students were studying Perception Report offers a glimmer before the enrolment numbers
had 346 member centres in 2020, remotely from outside the country. of hope, as it found perceptions of creep back up again.
Language schools seek support

Reporting on the All Party Parliamentary Group round table: Securing the
Future of English Language Teaching in the UK after Covid

o set the scene, this has English UK would like the
been a dire, dire situation government to do two things: offer
for the industry since the targeted business support in the
Tpandemic started,” said short term, focusing on business
Baron Karan Bilimoria, CBE, who rate relief and, in the medium term, PHOTO FROM SHUTTERSTOCK
lead the event. provide tailored support for visas,
“Student numbers were down immigration and travel in order to
83% in 2020,” Huan Jakes of create the best possible operating
English UK, reported. “As a environment for the industry.
result of that, 91% of staff were Painting how grim things
furloughed or released, so we’re were, Farhan Quraish, CEO of
in danger of losing some of the the Speak Up London language
expertise we’ve acquired over the school, said: “At the start of the
decades.” He went on to explain pandemic we were faced with
that English language schools countless requests for refunds. We
hadn’t been given any rate relief saw a mass exodus of our student survive by switching our provision combined with the heavy blow the
like other industries and, as they base, both current and future. from face-to-face to online, but pandemic has struck was taking
were never ordered to close, We saw key members of staff what wasn’t realised is that in an unbearable toll on private
English UK members were reliant returning to their home countries. order for this to happen we would language schools.
on discretionary grants from their Our income immediately dropped have to price match with already- MP Paul Blomfield summed up
local councils, so it was very to zero. We had the threat of established online providers by saying the focus for government
much a ‘postcode lottery’ whether eviction looming over us, as at that usually work with freelance had to be on business support and
language schools had received this time there was no protection teachers outside of the UK.” called on the other MPs present
any support. Further, he said they on commercial rents. It was generally felt that to liaise with their secretariat to
didn’t expect any real recovery for “There was also an incorrect the restrictions and regulations make representation as a matter
the industry until summer 2022. perception that we were able to around entry to Britain post-Brexit of urgency.
12 July 2021