Language students up 17% last year, 3.3% of total tourism

The National Statistics Office reports this week that over last year, a total of 41,515 foreign students participated in one of the English language courses organised by the 31 English language schools then in operation. This signified an increase of 16.9 per cent over figures registered in 1999. Moreover, the NSO reports that such foreign students account for 3.3 per cent of the total number of tourists visiting Malta.

German students accounted for the highest percentage of all foreign students namely 34.6 per cent, followed by Italians, 16.5 per cent. French and Austrian students accounted for 11.6 and 9.8 per cent respectively.

Last year, female students accounted for 58.3 per cent of all foreign English language students. Only six countries recorded a higher male participation with Libya having 75.1 per cent of its student component being male.

Students are classified under five age groups. The ‘16-20’ age group has the highest number of students, namely 15,319 or 36.9 per cent whilst the lowest number falls under the ‘15 & under’ age group with 7.8 per cent or 3,234 students.

European students made up 96.1 per cent of all foreign English language students, with 79.7 per cent coming from EU countries and 16.4 per cent from other European countries. Asia represented 1.7 per cent, Africa 0.6 per cent, America 0.03 per cent and no students whatsoever from Oceania.

The English language institutions employed 1,152 persons, up by 151 over the previous year. Most of the employees, or 1,108, were engaged on a part-time basis. Full-time employees made up only 3.8 per cent of the labour complement within this sector. Women accounted for 74.6 per cent of all employment within the English language schools.

Increases in foreign English language students were recorded from, amongst others, Austria (+1,447), Russia (+824), Switzerland (+732) and Germany (+714). The highest percentage increases were mainly recorded from Denmark, up by 116 students or 150.7 per cent, Ukraine, 54 students or 108.0 per cent, Czech Republic, 265 students or 70.3 per cent and Switzerland with 732 students or 59.1 per cent. Decreases were mainly recorded from Belgium (-88), Turkey (-52) and China (-50).