Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1345126
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 FEBRUARY 2021 NEWS JAMES DEBONO MALTA has seen a seven-fold increase in the number of international students, a category which includes children of foreign workers and residents, as well as irregular migrants and beneficiaries of asylum, in the past decade. But the percentage of these students varies from just 3.1% in public schools in the Cottonera area, to 36% in public schools in the Sliema/St Julian's region. Libyans are now the largest non-Mal- tese ethnic group in the St Clare Col- lege system, which includes schools in Sliema, Gzira, and St Julian's. On the other hand Syrians are the largest group in the St Theresa College, which includes schools in Birkirka- ra, Msida and Santa Venera, and in St George Preca College which includes schools in Hamrun and Marsa. Gozo remains the only region where British students constitute the largest group of students, while Italians are the most numerous ethnic group in all oth- er colleges. This reflects national trends showing Italian students increasing from just 77 in 2008 to 920 ten years later. Data published in a study on the in- ternationalisation of Maltese society and education in the Malta Journal of Education, shows that Syrians account for 29% of international students in St George Preca College and 13% in St Theresa College. Libyans account for 19.1% of international students in St Clare College. The authors of the study, Christina Fenech and Anita Seguna, point out State schools see sevenfold increase in 'foreign' students Experts say schools need greater support for increase in international students that has grown 700% over the last 10 years • Study recommends greater support for schools • Four in 10 students in St Clare College hail from families from other countries, 19% of which from Libya • Church schools have seen slower increase • Italian students in state schools increase from 77 to 920 in a decade, becoming the most numerous group of foreigners in most school colleges 4,000 3,500 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2,640 2,360 2,595 2,283 2,308 1,895 2,048 1,542 1,627 1,160 614 495 514 384 469 388 327 322 Most represented nationalities (State schools) 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 St Clare Maria Regina St Theresa San Gorg Preca Gozo St Thomas More St Ignatius St Benedict St Nicolas St Margaret 24.2% 28.5% 20.1% 15.8% 8.8% 12.1% 7.1% 11.2% 5.9% 10.2% 5.3% 7.8% 1.5% 7.4% 3.6% 5.6% 3.2% 3.1% 1.1% 2019 2015 Italy UK Libya Bulgaria Serbia Germany Russia 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1,000 920 77 813 265 571 344 43 336 40 65 2017-8 scholastic year 2008-9 scholastic year Percentage of international students in each educational college Top nationality in each college and percentage of EU and non-EU students 22 20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 St Clare Maria Regina St Theresa San Gorg Preca Gozo St Thomas More St Ignatius St Benedict St Nicholas St Margaret 16.2% 11.8 %16.6% 9.8% 6.2% 9.5% 2.6% 2.9% 8.8% 4% 6.2% 4.5% 3.4% 4.5% 2.9% 2% 3.6% 1.8% 1.3% Non-EU EU One of the classrooms at a government school in the St Clare College system: these shools in the northern regions were found to contain the highest number of international students