EC English Halts New Student Arrivals Worldwide

EC English has suspended all new student arrivals at its language schools worldwide for the weekend of September 12-13. The school network informed booking agents it is unable to provide the planned programs or accommodation, advising them to contact affected students immediately.

In correspondence seen by The PIE News, the company stated, "due to unforeseen operational circumstances, we are unable to accept any new student arrivals to our EC English schools this weekend." EC English apologized for the short notice and disruption, acknowledging the difficulty for students, families, and agents, especially where travel arrangements are already finalized. The school's immediate priority is to ensure students due to travel this weekend do not commence their journeys.

Global Agent Panic

The sudden announcement has caused panic among education agents and accommodation providers globally. Deniz Akar, director of Global Vizyon in Turkey, said he has several students scheduled to start at EC English schools in the UK this weekend. "They paid full fees, accommodation and flight tickets leaving in one day … and we don’t know what’s going to happen," Akar told The PIE News. He expects flights will be postponed while awaiting further updates from EC English.

The statement applies to all EC English schools across seven countries: the UK, Ireland, Canada, the USA, the UAE, South Africa, and Malta. It remains unclear how students headed for countries without specific English language teaching membership guarantees would be protected if the situation continues.

Sector-Wide Challenges

The disruption follows a period of significant strain in the global English Language Teaching (ELT) sector. Akar said he was not entirely surprised by the news, pointing to a challenging environment where some school groups have offered unsustainable commission rates to agencies to compete in a declining market. "The English language industry is really suffering all around the world," he said.

Industry data shows two consecutive years of decline for ELT globally. Student weeks fell by 23% in 2025, while overall student numbers dropped by 10%. Experts forecast further declines in 2026, warning providers to adapt to a new market structure with fewer adult learners, shorter stays, and more focus on the junior student market.

Company Restructuring

EC English, founded in Malta in 1991, operates 25 language schools across its seven markets, drawing students from over 120 countries. The company has recently undergone a strategic review. It closed its Bristol school in June and plans to close its Montreal site at the end of September. At the time, CEO Andrew Mangion said closing these sites would allow the company to direct more resources toward its strongest-performing centers and new summer programs in Spain and China.

Under English UK membership rules, if one member school closes, others are obliged to try to accept its students if possible. Akar expressed sympathy for any alternative schools that might be asked to step in, noting the situation "is now becoming a big headache for them as well." EC English has promised to provide partners with an update once its position is confirmed.