Home Events

'ESOL Campaign'

Back to events list
'ESOL Campaign'
The announcement by Bill Rammell Minister of State for Higher Education and Lifelong Learning that the existing entitlement to free ESOL training up to Level 2 was to be removed has led to a widespread campaign by NATECLA and other organisations to make the government aware of the consequences of their decision. NATECLA has joined forces with the UCU (University and College Union), Refugee Council, AOC, LLU+ and NIACE to fight the introduction of fees as set out in LSC’s 'Statement of Priorities’. ESOL is a victim of its own success. Our classes are full, there are long waiting lists but the government response to this is, effectively, to cut the provision. So much for demand-led provision! NATECLA has taken a pragmatic approach to this campaign: we are aware of the funding pressures created by demand for ESOL and realise that steps must be taken to deal with the unmet demand within the current budget. We have therefore campaigned for the NIACE recommendations as set out in the report ‘More than a Language’ to be implemented. This would give an entitlement of free tuition up until and including Level 1, free tuition for asylum seekers where a decision has not been made within eight weeks and immediate access to tuition for spouses. We have highlighted some of the ‘perverse outcomes’ of the present proposals. The government claims these changes would support ‘social cohesion’ by targeting those most in need. However, the groups who would be adversely affected by the proposed changes, notably spouses, women who are not working and reliant on their husbands to meet the cost of their fees and low paid workers are exactly those the government is trying to reach. The proposals in their present format would have, in our view, severe implications for social cohesion and the citizenship agenda. NATECLA’s campaign has taken a number of different pathways in order to maximise impact. Firstly we undertook a letter writing campaign to Ministers, LSC, DFES, our local MPs, the Mayor of London and the press expressing our concerns. This led to a meeting with the Mayor’s office where we were asked to provide evidence of the impact of the cuts and also on the quality of ESOL provision. Interestingly enough, when the Mayor’s representative made a speech at the UCU conference in January he used our evidence to say that ESOL provision had greatly improved. We have also attended the KMPG and DFES consultations where we again raised the impact on social cohesion for our local communities, how many socially excluded groups risk being excluded from provision and the difficulty Entry level learners will face in trying to complete the forms needed to claim tax credits. (The union survey found that only 3% of migrant workers eligible for tax credits actually claim them.). We argued for a simpler system for evidencing low pay. We also raised our concerns about the impact of the proposed changes on the ESOL workforce and provision. If learners are not able to meet the fees which could be as much as £500 then classes could close and teachers could be made redundant. The question whether employers would really contribute was also asked – there are many small employers and many migrant workers are employed by agencies. What sanctions would there be for employers who refused to pay? How would employment agencies be expected to contribute? Secondly we have joined the ESOL alliance co-ordinated by the UCU (University and College Union). We spoke at the event on the 15th January attended by over 100 people and are joining the lobby of Parliament on the 28th February Lastly we have been asking individual members of NATECLA to actively participate in this campaign. What then can you do as NATECLA members?  Continue to lobby your MP and also ask him/ her to sign the EDM (Early Day Motion 383) led by Helen Jones.  Continue to provide NATECLA with information about the impact of these changes on your provision.  Carry out a survey of your learners and send us the results.  Make your local LSC aware of the impact of the changes on your provision. We are aware that we cannot fully reverse the proposed funding changes and are quite clear that there is political force behind these decisions but do feel that continued sustained pressure, based on hard evidence, will lead to concessions. Irene Austin Co Chair Details of the lobby can be found on the UCU website link below. Write to your MP http://www.writetothem.com/ Early Day Motion (EDM383) ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES FUNDING04.12.2006 Check the link to see if your MP has signed. http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=32009&SESSION=885 Link to the UCU website and see media coverage. http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2255
Request further information
  • Date(s): 01 February 2008 to 01 February 2008

Search events