Press release 19/09/07 ESOL funding
NATECLA voices its concerns on the impact of the funding changes which end the free entitlement to ESOL Classes. We have been conducting a survey amongst our members to monitor the impact of these changes and initial responses paint a gloomy picture in some areas. Provision has been cut, particularly entry-level programmes, partly due to the focus on Level 2 programmes. This is exactly the area where provision needs to grow if learners are to stand any chance of ever achieving a Level 2 qualification. We accept that enrolment is still continuing and there will always be problems during ant transition stage but the general picture is that numbers are down. Potential learners are not completing their enrolment when they discover how much they have to pay and others are put off by the amount of additional paperwork they need to provide.
There also seems to be a lack of clarity and interpretation in the Learner Support fund, which has resulted in delays in enrolment and uncertainty. Learners are having to return two or three to provide all the documentation and in some cases are simply not returning. Others are reporting that the Learner Support fund is woefully inadequate. This is surely not what the government intended when they assured the sector that they would find accessible ways of learners proving that they were on low incomes and that the learner support funds would protect vulnerable adults such as spouses who might not be able to produce the documentation.
We warned the government about the additional time and resources that would be needed to check documentation, this was ignored and is now resulting in stressful situations for both learners and teachers. Some providers have also questioned whether the increased time and cost spent in collecting fees and chasing documentation particularly in community based ESOL actaully justifies the fees raised. A quote from one teacher sums up the situation 'This is the most stressful start to term I have ever known'. Although it is early days we are already seeing the negative impact of the changes which contradict the government's policy of cohesion and integration and unfortunately, we feel there is worse to come. As part of the ESOL Alliance we are supporting the Save ESOL campaign and the day of action and urge the government to take heed of what is happening and reinstate free provision, particularly at the lower levels.
Irene Austin and Anne McKeown - NATECLA Co-Chairs
We need data about applicants who are unable to take up places because of costs and case study evidence. Please continue to survey your students.
http://www.natecla.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=189
Link is to the UCU Save ESOL campaign and July bulletin
http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2255
Write to your MP. http://www.writetothem.com/
NATECLA Press Release 4 October 2006
What speakers of English as a second language in the UK most need is high quality opportunities to learn English on courses which are local, flexible, easy to access and tailored to their needs. NATECLA warmly welcomes the findings of the NIACE Committee of Enquiry Report "More than a Language". For the very first time a national report has looked in detail at how English language teaching in the UK can be delivered and administered
NATECLA’s Co- Chairs Irene Austin and Anne Mckeown said the Association was looking forward to working closely with NIACE and the Government on implementing the Report’s recommendations particularly those on the future long term funding of ESOL. "We are pleased that the Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education Bill Rammell said there were no proposals to cut the overall ESOL budget."
At the same time the Association is concerned that changes to funding if not very carefully planned and administered, could unintentionally restrict the availability of ESOL. "We fear that some vulnerable groups could be unable to access learning, with dangerous consequences for social inclusion and community cohesion. Would-be citizens may find it hard to achieve the level of English language skills required for citizenship if provision is restricted."
NIACE (National Institute of Adult and Continuing Education) launched the final report of its year long Committee of Enquiry into English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) called ‘More than just a Language’ on Tuesday 3/10/06 at Abbey Community Centre London
