Language school jobs ‘go to overseas tutors’

Experienced Maltese teachers at English language schools are concerned they are being sidelined for inferior teachers from eastern Europe recruited on far lower pay.

“We are in a situation where teachers from eastern European countries who can’t speak proper English, or who clearly don’t know the nuances of the language, are teaching students who come specifically to Malta to learn the language. It’s a thriving industry,” said one of several teachers.

He said several students had noticed the difference and many claimed they would not return.

According to another teacher, they first started witnessing signs of this with the recession about five years ago, when English language schools embarked on “a cost-cutting exercise”. However, the problem has become more pronounced in the past year.

All teachers agreed there was nothing irregular in employing foreigners for the job, as most fulfilled the basic requirements: an A level in English and a TEFL induction course.

Experienced teachers are usually paid up to €12 per hour, while eastern European teachers or newly recruited ones earn “substantially less” – about €6 or €7 per hour.

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