Page 26 - ELG2202 Feb Issue 479

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SUMMER SCHOOLS

ontier
fr
The final
The final frontier

The visa situation for English language students and teachers hoping to
come to the UK is a bit of a minefield, says Melanie Butler, as she picks
her way through the red tape

early two-thirds of British people
agree that EU children should be
allowed to travel to the UK on
Nschool trips using their identity PHOTO SHUTTERSTOCK
cards, according to a survey conducted by
the Tourism Alliance, a lobbying body whose
members include the British Educational
Travel Association and the language school
body English UK.
Since last year, issues with travel documents
and visas have become a real headache for
EU students and teachers wanting to visit the
UK. That’s because of the double whammy
of the UK Government banning the use of
EU identity cards and withdrawing from
the List of Travellers scheme. Instead, the
Government said it would rely on the old
group passport scheme, now so out of date
that only two EU member states even issue
them anymore.
Almost all EU countries issue ID cards
though, even to children, and they can be used
instead of passports throughout the Union.
Not being able to travel on them particularly
discriminates against poor children, whose
parents can’t afford the extra expense; migrant
children, who may carry a passport from a
non-EU country; and anyone from a country
like Italy, where it can take months to get a
passport issued.
The result is predictable: European schools Will it work? Some schools seem very
are avoiding the UK altogether and heading If no one in the UK confident it will – certainly far more confident
for Malta, Ireland and, according to some press wants to teach English, than I would be about the British immigration
reports, countries such as the Netherlands, authority’s ability to process any paperwork
where English is so widely spoken it’s almost a it’s probably because, like on anything at all any time before the next
second language. election comes around.
Much the same thing may happen with the fruit picking, it involves Even if they do, why would EU teachers
summer schools. In fact, the director of one long hours for low pay choose to work for what is often less than
language school chain claims that Malta and British minimum wage (when you add all the
Ireland are already filling up fast. non-teaching duties in) when they can earn
Does the British government care? It doesn’t Something tells me that much of the up to twice Irish minimum wage in Dublin
look like it. In fact, it seems to believe that British public would agree with them on without all the pastoral care, excursions and
banning the use of EU ID cards is popular. that one. People understand that no one in evening activities thrown in on top? Oh,
And about that they are broadly right: 63% the UK wants to pick fruit, but if no one in and most Irish schools are offering subsidised
of respondents to the survey agreed. However, the UK wants to teach English, it’s probably accommodation as well.
61% also thought children on school trips or because, like fruit picking, it involves long We’re already hearing reports of EU teachers
coming for English language courses should hours for low pay. However, since there are who worked year round in the UK who went
be exempt and 58% thought the same should plenty of school teachers in the country home during the pandemic and are not coming
apply to their teachers. The results of the who are free in the summer, they might back. After all, with British teachers banned
survey were largely the same across all age want to earn a little extra – if only the job from going to the EU to work, there are plenty
groups, all regions of the UK and even among paid enough. of jobs in the EU. Not only are there very few
people who voted to leave the EU, as well as However, the solution for most summer native speakers there, but also local teachers
those that didn’t. schools has not been to put the money up who have taught in an English-speaking
The Tourism Alliance has put forward a new and the hours down, but to aim for EU teachers country are now in high demand.
plan for junior group travel with ID cards. Will with a different kind of visa: a Frontier Worker I have no doubt when it comes to summer,
the Government accept it? Probably not. After permit, which allows EU citizens and those many kids will head for the UK, as Ireland and
all, it has already turned down a request to from Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein Malta simply do not have enough schools to
allow EU teachers in for summer on a seasonal who worked in the UK before 31 December take them all. But will the UK have enough
visa like fruit pickers. 2020 to continue doing so for now. teachers to teach them?
26 February 2022