Minister for Lifelong Learning announces concessions.

The government's plans to restrict access to free ESOL have come under attack from a wide alliance of professional bodies and resulted in the lobby of parliament on 28 February organised by UCU. Bill Rammell, Minister for Lifelong Learning at an NIACE ESOL Update Meeting on 7 March outlined a number of concessions.  Colleges will be urged, when offering fee concessions, to consider evidence of low income such as entitlement to housing benefit, free prescriptions certificates and pay slips (provided they are supported by some state-based evidence of identity) to determine if these learners are eligible for fee remission. This will obviously need to be subject to robust audit procedures.  The Learning and Skills Council will assist local projects to help spouses in settled communities to gain language support. These are priority learners in hard to reach groups and unlikely to have access to their own money or family benefit documentation  To reinstate eligibility after 6 months for all those people who are in this country legally awaiting a decision on their asylum claim or appeal. And for those who have been refused asylum in the UK, but can't leave because of circumstances beyond their control and who are eligible for support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.  Asylum seekers who go on an ESOL waiting list before their 19th birthday, will still get free access, even if the place isn't available until after their 19th birthday. The full speech is attached. Members should ensure they keep waiting lists for the 16 - 18 year olds so that they can take advantage of the concession for 19 year olds. NATECLA welcomes these changes but Irene Austin NATECLA Co Chair said "that this is not enough. We need far more clarification about support for spouses and to express our concern regarding the new ESOL work related qualifications". Guardian report 07/03/07 http://education.guardian.co.uk/tefl/story/0,,2028522,00.html

External Link: http://www.niace.org.uk