UCU - University and College Union

Save ESOL

The Save ESOL campaign to prevent new restrictions on funding for vital ESOL courses continues to grow.

LATEST

Tower Hamlets Jobs Protest

UCU members held a rally at Tower Hamlets College on Thursday as part of their ongoing fight save jobs and vital adult education courses. The college has announced plans to axe 25 full-time posts and reduce student places on its 'Skills for Life' programme by over 50%, as well as getting rid of important outreach centres and support services for students and learners. Under the proposals places for students looking to learn key skills in subjects such as English and maths will be slashed from 2,944 to 1,349 in 2009/10. UCU said the planned cuts fly in the face of new government initiatives which call on local authorities to prioritise English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) and fund courses for vulnerable and hard to reach groups: Tower Hamlets protest over adult education cut

Lost on Translation? - Channel Four News looks at the increasing reliance on translation services

More4 News has learnt that 58 per cent of councils across England increased their funding on translation services last year. The majority of councils have increased their spending on translation services for immigrants - despite a formal government request to cut it.

More4 News has discovered that over £50m was spent on tranlsations by English councils, and that some of the material translated is not read by a single person. The findings reignite the debate over whether English lessons are a better way to cater for migrants' needs. Harry Anscombe reports: Channel4.com: Lost on translation?

UCU warning on community cohesion

Government should do more to promote community cohesion through English language provision

Read more on UCU's submission to the Communities and Local Government Committee:

UCU warns community cohesion cannot happen without English classes for migrants

Government review of English language classes

UCU said that the government's consultation on arrangements and funding for tuition of ESOL was a welcome opportunity to rethink present arrangements. The consultation is now closed and a report is expected during summer 2008.

UCU says joined up government is essential to translation services

UCU has called for joined up government thinking on the issue of translation services. Communities secretary, Hazel Blears, published new guidance in December on translation for local councils 'placing greater emphasis on learning English'. UCU warned that government restrictions on English classes were the reason many people are still reliant on translation services:

See the full news release

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What can I do?

Why a 'Save ESOL' campaign?

The following are reasons why we are fighting to defend the rights to free ESOL.

Proposed changes include:

existing universal entitlement to free ESOL training up to level 2 removed

fee remission available only to people receiving means-tested benefits and tax credits

asylum seekers aged 19+ no longer automatically eligible for publicly funded FE provision from 2007-08.

Take-up of ESOL has risen in recent years and in many cases demand exceeds supply. The changes to ESOL funding mean that for many people with ESOL needs, the cost of paying for courses will shift from the public purse to individuals, unless employers make a contribution. The government thinks employers and migrant worker agencies should pay but there is no mechanism in place to ensure they do.