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Action for ESOL.Messages of support and media coverage

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06 April 2011
Action for ESOL.Messages of support and media coverage Action for ESOL

Early Day Motion FUNDING FOR ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES COURSES has been tabled by Paul Blomfield, Member of Parliament for Sheffield Central The EDM text and signature list can be seen here http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-11/1706 14th APRIL ACTION FOR ESOL PRESS RELEASE David Cameron announced today that people who are unable to speak English have created ‘a kind of discomfort and disjointedness’ in communities across Britain. He also intimated that some migrants are ‘unwilling to integrate’. For ESOL teachers and members of migrant communities, these comments do not come as a surprise. From Jewish workers arriving in London’s East End in the late nineteenth century to the diverse groups of people migrating to the UK today, the ability of migrants to speak English has long been a preoccupation of politicians and the right-wing press. And blaming migrants for social and economic problems is nothing new and is always more heightened in times of economic depression. Today’s comments, though, are particularly hypocritical – indeed ridiculous, coming at a time when the Government is attacking English Language provision harder than ever before. ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) is the publicly funded English language provision for migrants in the UK. It has seen a massive cut of 32% in funding in the last two years, and if the Coalition government’s proposed cuts to funding go ahead 100,000 students, three-quarters of whom are women, will be hit with fees of £400-£1,200 for ESOL classes – charges that they simply cannot afford. If people can’t speak English how can they find work, help their children at school, take part in their local communities or assert their rights? Since the new cuts to ESOL were announced Action for ESOL has been set up to defend and fight for better ESOL provision. So far 20,000 people have signed a petition to stop the ESOL cuts. Large numbers of ESOL students have been writing letters to their MPs, organizing in their colleges and communities and demonstrating alongside their teachers. On the 24th March there was a national day of action for ESOL, with a mass teach-in at Old Palace Yard in Westminster and rallies and marches across the country. Students spoke about the tremendous importance of English language provision and the positive effects it had on their lives. Does this sound like people who are unwilling to learn English? David Cameron, like many politicians before him, should stop scape-goating migrants and stop blaming them for the hardship that his government is inflicting on all working-class people in the UK. Stop the scape-goating and hypocrisy, and stop the cuts to ESOL. Rebecca Galbraith and Mel Cooke for Action for ESOL MESSAGES OF SUPPORT Jennie Turner GCC James Lee Refugee Council Women's Hour 27th May http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/womans-hour/ Support from Teresa Pearce MP http://www.teresapearce.org.uk/2011/05/teresa-supports-greenwich-community-colleges/ 18 May 'Women affected most' by English language funding cuts http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13412811 "ESOL has given hundreds of thousands of Londoners an opportunity to learn new skills, find work, create new jobs and play a positive role in their communities. I am deeply concerned about impact of cuts to ESOL funding, the introduction of fees, the abolition of the £4.5 million learner support fund for adults on low incomes and the removal of all funding from ESOL in the workplace. I urge the Government to think again before making sweeping changes to ESOL which will have a devastating impact on the lives of thousands of Londoners". Ken Livingstone - "You absolutely have my support in your campaign. All power to you. All the best" Michael Morpurgo. Noam Chomsky March 21 I strongly endorse this petition and hope very much that the significance of the Skills for Life strategies programs will be recognized and that they will be fully funded Noam Chomsky March 21 “I wholeheartedly support the Action for ESOL campaign. It is sadly typical of this government that they indulge the wealthy who don't pay their fair share in taxes but reduce the present modest support for the most vulnerable. Language is the key to social integration. To claim to promote a cohesive society and then cut the teaching of English is not only hypocritical but plain stupid. Good luck to the campaign - and please join with all those many groups who are opposing the present attacks”. Ken Loach - RE ESOL provision. I am more than happy to support this campaign in any way you feel I can be of assistance, Clive Efford MP for Eltham - “ESOL classes open the door to so many opportunities for people and cutting ESOL effectively slams that door shut. What chance have people got if they can’t speak the language? No chance. That is why ESOL is so important to so many and why it is critically important if we want people to participate in our society and make their contribution.” John McDonnell MP - Fighting for ESOL courses In Lewisham, these courses can be a real lifeline for people who have recently come to the UK, enabling them to access training, get into work and play a full role in society. Cutting these courses will just make it harder for people to get on and could add thousands of people to the dole queue (the students themselves but also the teachers). I can’t quite believe that the Government is doing this. Wasn’t it David Cameron a few months ago who was espousing the need for recent immigrants to all speak English? Heidi Alexander. MP for Lewisham East http://www.heidialexander.org.uk/ - As part of NIACE's mission to work for more and different adult learners, its Chief Executive Alan Tuckett has signed the Action for ESOL petition. NIACE has written to John Hayes, the Minister of State, asking for an early assessment of the impact of the proposed funding changes on the most vulnerable learners. http://www.niace.org.uk/news/action-for-esol-more-and-different-adult-learners?src=fp1st-more - Ruth Hayman Trust supports the Action for ESOL campaign and urges the Government to reconsider proposals to cut funding for essential ESOL provision http://www.ruthhaymantrust.com/bulletin.htm Sheila Rosenberg's letter to Minister John Hayes http://www.natecla.org.uk/uploads/documents/doc_3256.pdf - Support from Teresa Pearce MP who visited Greenwich Community College http://www.gcc.ac.uk/news-events/news/142/esol-students-and-staff-protest-against-cuts/ -QuiTE Association for the Promotion of Quality in TESOL Education Dr Trevor Grimshaw Co-chair has given QuiTE's support to the Action for ESOL campaign. -The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) is in support of the Action for ESOL campaign MEDIA 'Women affected most' by English language funding cuts. 18 May 2011 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-13412811 MPs question timing of report on ESOL cuts - Joseph Lee http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6080549 Alan Tuckett Chief Executive NIACE Cutting funding for English lessons is a false economy http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/apr/26/english-for-speakers-of-other-languages Institute of Race Relations 14 April Learn the language - how? http://www.irr.org.uk/2011/april/ha000017.html Guardian 14 April http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/apr/15/students-school-children-poverty London BBC News 24th March. Protest march and handing in the petition. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX2x_DDShRQ Photos of London Protest http://www.demotiximages.com/news/634824/students-and-teachers-protest-esol-language-cuts-london Nottingham protest 24th march http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGiaMI_Cub8 http://nottingham.indymedia.org.uk/articles/1074 Protest in Bristol http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Creating-noise-education-funding-cuts/article-3373672-detail/article.html Bristol Indymedia http://bristol.indymedia.org.uk/article/703883 BBC Radio Tuesday 22 March Word of Mouth discusses the question - who speaks English and who doesn't in the UK? If you live in the UK should you speak English - and if so, what will be the effect of cutting the funding for English language classes? Michael Rosen Granada News at Hopwood Hall College Cuts to ESOL funding - Impact on Learners http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vV-Hq_YcIkM Rochdale Online, 7th March, local MP supports ESOL learners http://rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/53628/mp-supports-college-campaign-to-save-esol-funding Hackney Save ESOL Day http://bit.ly/dVbz3R Slough International Womens day activity which included ESOL cuts. http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthernWEA#p/a/u/0/LvtOIVPbnyk TES 11 MarchProtesters don gags to demonstrate against Esol cuts http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6072605 A radio programme Resonance 104.4fmon the ESOL cuts and their effect on women , for International Women's Day 8 March Featuring staff and students from Greenwich Community College There are some really good student interviews in particular. http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9032305/MP3%20Women%27s%20Day%20ESOL%20show%20March%202011.mp3 Basic Skills Bulletin Briefing February(extract) http://www.natecla.org.uk/uploads/documents/doc_3245.doc TES FE focus 25 February Pistols drawn over ESOL http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6071217 TES 25 February Esol cuts mean immigrants could miss out on citizenship http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6071211 24 February 'Funding cuts undermine Cameron’s integration message' Article by James Lee, Policy Advisor,Refugee Council http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/02/esol-funding-cuts/ 22 February 2011 Evening Standard http://tinyurl.com/4fksofq 18 February Esol cuts 'not thought through', claims Niace http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6070629 16 February Association of Colleges ESOL survey Language course cuts pose further threat to Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ Disadvantaged women would be hardest hit. Proposed changes to the funding of English courses for speakers of other languages (ESOL) could hit Government plans for citizenship, volunteering and the jobs market, an Association of Colleges survey has found. http://tinyurl.com/666cusw BBC news 16 February English course cuts 'to hit citizenship and jobs' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12478909 Coalition of Resistance 17 January http://tinyurl.com/4ow5fdr Observer Sunday 13th Feb 'Job anguish for immigrants as English language courses face cuts' http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/feb/13/english-language-teaching-immigrants-cutbacks Defend ESOL letter to members from Patricia Sullivan Chair of NATECLA http://www.natecla.org.uk/uploads/documents/doc_3219.doc Alan Tuckett signs petition on behalf of NIACE http://www.niace.org.uk/news/action-for-esol?src=fp2nd ESOL Learners at risk - NIACE's view http://www.niace.org.uk/news/esol-learners-at-risk-%E2%80%93-niace%E2%80%99s-view?src=fp2nd-more NIACE ESOL briefing http://www.natecla.org.uk/uploads/documents/doc_3221.pdf WEA. What will happen to much needed English courses? http://www.wea.org.uk/weanews/what_happen_esol.htm UCU Defend ESOL against the cuts http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=2255 Refugee Council ESOL briefing paper http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/policy/briefings/2011/esol useful video to use with students http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApgubCi3gPc Guardian article 18/01/2011 Funding cuts threaten English lessons. Coalition rules on English courses for speakers of other languages will cut eligibility, harming the life chances of poor women and refugees. http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/jan/18/esol-courses-funding-cuts?CMP=twt_fd FE Focus 21 Jan The 'cruel' cuts that could silence a generation http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6068055 Some comments from those signing the petition - - "You don't have to be Mr Spock to say that attacking Multiculturalism at the same time as withdrawing funding from ESOL is illogical!" - "Studing Esol is imortant because: It imorves our language and skills. It help s us integrate into this society. If you don't speak good English ,you cant find a job. I want to help my children with their school.If I can speak for myself , I don't need a translator. Without English ,feel isolated and dependent on other people. Stopping Esol funds will cause more poverty" - "At a time when the Government is rejecting multi culturalism, it is counterproductive to remove access to ESOL classes as the means for people desperate to integrate to do so. It also undermines community cohesion, which is vital to all our wellbeing and security" - "No to the cuts that effect the people who need the most help. Integration without a common language is no integration at all!" - "As a college ESOL lecturer, I see the importance learning English has for my students on a daily basis. My students need to learn the language to integrate into life in this country, to help their children, to find work, and to feel part of this society. Most of my students will be unable to study next year as they will be unable to pay the fees. ESOL provision is vital if large numbers of people are not to be excluded from our society." - I am a GP and a school govenor and I know in both of these roles how important it is to encorage and support those whose first language is not English to learn it. We need to make more opportunities available not less.

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