FELTOM Malta - FELTOM Member Schools - What is FELTOM? - www.feltom.com

The Federation of English Language Teaching Organisations Malta (FELTOM)

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FELTOM is the national association representing 17 well established English Language schools in Malta and Gozo.

The Federation was set up in 1989 by a group of 10 established English Language schools, many of which saw the need to introduce quality assurance standards as the EFL industry in Malta began to grow.

FELTOM’s key activities focus on: Quality Assurance – through the development and implementation of the FELTOM Accreditation Scheme.

Advocacy – FELTOM is recognized by various government ministries and authorities as the main representative body of the EFL industry. Regular consultation meetings are held to ensure an environment which is conducive to strengthening and further developing the EFL industry in Malta and Gozo.

Marketing and promotion – we work to promote Malta as a safe, professional, quality destination for English language learning.

Members School Overview

Quality Assurance and Accreditation

The aim of the FELTOM Accreditation Scheme is to ensure quality standards in all areas of EFL services. Such standards are designed to reflect modern developments in the EFL market, both globally and locally, and to provide an objective mechanism whereby these criteria can be checked and maintained for both new and existing member schools.

The Accreditation Scheme covers a number of key areas which play an important role in the provision of a quality service.

Premises and environment – classrooms, reception and leisure areas, staff areas and other facilities.

Teaching and learning – minimum qualifications for Directors of Studies and teaching staff.

Advertising and Promotion – accurate and up-to-date information on websites and promotional material about the services being provided.

Student Welfare – student welfare monitoring, administrative checks on accommodation provision, leisure activities, student feedback and a redress mechanism.

The accreditation process is handled by an independent Accreditation Council. The members of the Council currently are: Prof. Mark Borg (Chairman), Ing. Nicholas Baldacchino and Mr. Andrew Mangion (President of FELTOM) – the latter provides a link between the Executive Board and the Accreditation Council. Applications are vetted by the Accreditation Council before inspections of schools are carried out by a team of specially appointed independent inspectors. Inspectors draft a report on each school and present it to the Accreditation Council for consideration. Schools may only become fully accredited once the Accreditation Council is assured that all accreditation criteria have been met.

Accreditation lasts for 3 years, after which time schools must be re-inspected. Should the need arise, the Accreditation Council may carry out interim inspections during an accreditation period.

Should the Accreditation Council decide that an organisation does not meet the necessary criteria for accreditation, there is a process of appeal to an independent Accreditation Appeals Board.

All FELTOM schools holding full membership status have successfully completed the process needed to become accredited members of FELTOM. All 16  schools offering year round courses have undergone the rigorous inspection process needed to gain accreditation. Any school aspiring to FELTOM membership must successfully complete the accreditation process before being admitted to membership of the Federation.

Any additional premises used by FELTOM member schools must meet the standards outlined in the FELTOM Accreditation Scheme.

The fully accredited schools are: am Language Studio, Clubclass Residential Language School, Easy School of Languages, EC Malta English Communication School , English Language Academy, European School of English (ESE), GEOS Malta, Global Village, Inlingua Institute of English Language Studies, Linguatime Magister Academy, NSTS-ELI, Sprachcaffe Languages Plus, The International English Language Centre

Becoming a Member

To apply for FELTOM membership schools must have been in operation for a minimum of two years.

All schools must be licensed by the Monitoring Board of the Department of Education and be in possession of all the necessary licences and permits required by the laws of Malta.

Schools wanting to become FELTOM members, should request an application form and accreditation documents from FELTOM’s <<Executive Officer>> . All prospective members of FELTOM must go through a process of inspection and accreditation before being accepted as members of the Federation.

Types of Membership

FELTOM embraces two categories of Membership: Full membership – eligible schools are those that run courses all year round. In addition to all other benefits, full members may present themselves as candidates to the Executive Board, qualify for 1 vote at General Meetings, and may carry the FELTOM logo on their stationery, website and promotional material.

Affiliate membership – suitable for schools which operate thoughout selected periods of the year to a total of less than eight months and have operated such courses for a minimum of two years. Affiliate members have no vote and cannot present themselves for membership of the Executive Board. Such members must carry the word "Affiliate" alongside the FELTOM logo on their stationery, website and promotional material.

All members must meet the required criteria of the FELTOM Accreditation Scheme. The different categories of membership do not reflect a difference in the quality of service.