Spanish scholarship for English in Malta reduced

English language schools in Malta are preparing for a decrease in Spanish students, after the Spanish government reduced the Becas MEC scholarship available for study in the country.

Eligible students will now receive e1,200 (US$1,737) for a three-week course, compared with a previous entitlement of e1,700 (US$2,460). The full scholarship remains for students planning to study English in the UK or Ireland and has been increased for the USA and Australia.

Isabelle Pace Warrington, Executive Officer of language school association, Feltom, said, “We were informed that the reason for reducing the scholarship for Malta was because of a lower cost of living [here]. While courses are perhaps marginally cheaper than they are in the UK and Ireland, figures show that there is not a 30 per cent difference in costs. By increasing the scholarship to the US and Australia, it appears that the Spanish government is encouraging Spaniards to travel outside Europe.” She added that the reduction would likely have a negative impact on the number of students choosing to learn English in Malta this summer.

National Statistics Office figures show that in 2010 Spanish students accounted for 33,679 student weeks, 18.4 per cent of the total and comfortably the largest group. However, Michelle Falzon at EC Malta, said, “Although the Spanish market is very important to us, our summer operation is not entirely dependent on it. We consider every market to be important as variation ensures a good nationality mix.”

Source: hothousemedia.com