Page 21 - ELG2505 May Issue 494

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INTERVIEW

Making Malta flourish

EL Gazette’s Becci Knowles delves into the latest statistics and speaks with

CEO Sue Falzon to understand the ELT Council’s vital role in cementing
Malta’s reputation as a leading hub for English language education.

alta’s ELT Council, an autonomous that growth. In practical terms, this means
entity set up by legal notice, reinforcing our robust quality-assurance
is dedicated to advancing the framework.
MEnglish language teaching profession. Our objective is to foster Malta’s
Its core mission involves promoting proficient reputation as an international centre of
English usage nationally and elevating ELT excellence for ELT. I’ve been occupying
standards in all licensed ELT operations this role for the past 14 years and I’ve truly
in Malta and Gozo. This includes setting experienced the evolution of Malta’s ELT
minimum entry requirements, improving Industry and as ELT Council we are fully
teacher qualifications, establishing ELT as committed to safeguard the industry and
a regulated profession, and implementing direct it to enable sustainable growth.
rigorous quality assurance for English We do this by encouraging the industry
language stays. to innovate and expand, while rigorously
The Council also strives to bolster Malta’s upholding the standards that have made
reputation as a leading international learning Malta a trusted English-learning destination.
centre for ELT. It develops a framework of This dual focus – growth and quality – is
ELT qualifications aligned with national and at the core of our work, as outlined in our
international standards, fostering stronger strategic mission.
ties between ELT, tourism, and other public/
private sectors for sustainable growth. To BK: Given the NSO report’s data and the
achieve its expanding remit, the ELT Council Council’s focus on teacher qualifications,
ensures it has the necessary professional how are trends – like a high proportion of
management, administrative, and physical Sue Falzon, CEO, ELT Council under-17 students – influencing teacher
resources, continually enhancing its national Becci Knowles (BK): How does the training and professional development
economic profile. Council perceive its role in supporting initiatives?
The ELT Council’s efforts it seems, are the 3% growth in ELT student numbers SF: The NSO data confirm a very significant
working. A data collection exercise carried out and ensuring quality standards are trend: on average, half of our students are
by National Statistics Office (NSO) on behalf maintained within the expanding ELT under 18. This has clear implications for
of the Council reveals that in 2024, foreign sector? teacher education. We must ensure our
students attending English language courses Sue Falzon (SF): We view the 3% rise teachers are not only excellent in their
at 33 local licensed English Language Teaching in student numbers (to 80,946 in 2024) as knowledge of the language but also specially
(ELT) schools in Malta amounted to 80,946, a healthy sign that Malta’s ELT industry prepared to teach and mentor younger
marking an increase of 2,379 over 2023. remains highly attractive, yet we recognise learners. In response, the Council has
EL Gazette editor, Becci Knowles caught up that growth brings greater responsibility. Our emphasised training in areas such as teaching
with CEO Sue Falzon to find out more. mission obliges us to safeguard the quality of young learners, and safeguarding student

editorial@elgazette.com 21