National Minimum Conditions (School Teaching English as a Foreign Language) (Amendment) Regulations, 1998

Since Legal Notice 60 of 1996 came into force, careful note has been taken of problems arising from its implementation and of the main concerns of interested parties involved in EFL provision. Moreover the new Legal Notice amending LN 60/96 has been drawn up after all the verbal and written submission made by EFL School to the Monitoring Board have been carefully weighed.

The points raised by EFL Schools in their dealing with the Monitoring Board so far have centered on the following main topics:

The National Minimum Conditions (Schools teaching English as a Foreign Language) (Amendment) Regulations, 1998 enact the following changes:

1 DIRECTOR OF STUDIES

In terms of Part B para 1.3 (a) the DOS does not any longer necessarily require a Permanent Warrant; a Temporary Warrant now suffices. Experience has shown that very often excellent candidates have been held back waiting for a Permanent Warrant to be issued. The processing of Permanent Warrants is of its very nature a longish process.

Furthermore, in terms of Part B para 1.3 (c) while a first degree in English from a recognized university has been retained as a requirement, it is felt that an EFL Diploma or higher EFL qualification is more than appropriate. Indeed, since EFL courses aim to teach language first and foremost, an EFL Diploma or higher EFL award is more directly relevant.

2 EFL TEACHERS

The amendments are in Part B para 2.2 (c) and (e). Every teacher now must "have a matriculation standard of education" and "possess an Advanced Level certificate in English of a recognzied institution, or comparable qualifications".

These amendments do away with what has proved a very rigid formula i.e. "Advanced Level certificate in English at Grade C or better". In the past a number of teachers with more than just adequate qualifications and experience have had to be turned down. The new provisions give the Monitoring Board a slightly wider margin of discretion but the standard aimed at remains the same.

For one thing, the Monitoring Board is now able to take a more favourable and fairer view of certificates comparable to Advanced Level qualifications where no grade is awarded.

3 THE MONITORING BOARD

Here the message from EFL schools has been loud and clear. Very often the Monitoring Board was unable to process requests relating to school licences, induction courses and teachers' qualifications at an acceptable pace. There were far too many delays that proved frustrating to EFL operators.

The amendments now establish the Monitoring Board as a one-stop shop in the service of EFL school, their staff and clients. In fact the Minister of Education and National Culture, in virtue of Government Notice 385 Delegation of Powers and Authorities to the Monitoring Board, has turned over to the Monitoring Board a number of functions. These include the granting of licences to schools and the issuing of certificates of proficiency in the teaching of English as a foreign language, henceforth to be referred to as EFL permits. For the purposes of the Education Act, an EFL Permit shall constitute a temporary warrant.

The main purpose of these amendments is to streamline the processing of applications which the Monitoring Board in terms of Legal Notice 60 of 1996 previously had to channel through the Education Division or the Ministry of Education and National Culture.

4 HOST FAMILIES

Here the main issues have been the number of students per family and the standard conditions families are expected to meet.

The delegation of powers already mentioned, at para (b), grants the Monitoring Board full authority to see that EFL Schools ensure that proper standards are upheld by the host families.

It is pertinent to draw attention also to part C para 1 of L.N. 60 of 1996 which states that "schools offering non-academic services to students as part of an all-inclusive passage shall appoint an administrator who shall have overall responsibility for all non academic services offered by the school".

Finally, it is to be noted that this new legal set-up is now supported by a full time EFL secretariat headed by an official enjoying the rank of Senior Principal, whose office is housed in the Ministry of Education and National Culture.