ESOL media coverage

A rundown of the media coverage of the Save ESOL campaign.

Campaign gives voice to migrants - and saves jobs, Guardian

Richard Payne, one of the organisers of Saturday's North East London Save ESOL Demonstration was interviewed this morning (5 July) on Sound Radio in Hackney. Also Teachers and students at Wapping Women's College were interviewed on Radio Five Live on 27 April about the impact that ESOL restrictions will have once plans come in this Autumn.

Axing free English lessons will 'hit workforce', Independent

On Friday 23 March the BBC radio 4 programme The World at One examined the controversy over the government's plans for ESOL. Ceri Williams, principal of the Mary Ward Centre college in London, described the impact of course fees on low income families who do not claim benefits. George Galloway MP and skills minister Bill Rammell also appeared on the programme. See Rammell wrong again on impact of ESOL plans.

Indymedia report of lobby with pictures

Video coverage of ESOL protest, Bradford Telegraph & Argus

Students in battle for lectures, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Lobby will protest at ESOL cuts, Guardian

Defend these language courses, Willesden & Brent Times

Free English courses for migrants scrapped, Evening News 24

Fight launched for free English lessons, Manchester Evening News

UCU's Roger Kline and ESOL tutor and UCU member Beatrice Jackson debated ESOL proposals with lifelong learning minister Bill Rammell on BBC Radio 4's The Learning Curve': BBC Learning Curve website.

A thorn in the side - former CBI chief and the government's skills envoy, Digby Jones, describes the decision to reduce eligibility for free English classes as 'hypocritical', The Guardian.

The government keeps telling immigrants to learn English but won't pay for it, The Economist

Government to cut benefits for claimants not taking language courses, BBC news

Brendan Barber, TUC General Secretary, backs the ESOL campaign

Immigrants bridge the skills gap, Bolton Evening News, 12 February 2007

Minister under cross party fire in the Commons, ePolitix

Race equality group attacks failure to give migrants English tuition, Scotsman, 7 February

Cuts to English provision will hit migrants, report warns, The Guardian

Concern in Belfast over lessons for migrant workers and their families, Belfast Telegraph

Bradford councillors back free language courses, Bradford Telegraph & Argus

Campaigners speak up for language lessons, The Guardian

'ESOL The unkindest cut' the case for free ESOL, The Guardian

Anger mounts as door closes on learners, The Guardian

Employers will not pay for migrant English lessons, government warned, The Guardian

The Times Education Supplement highlighted the impact of ESOL needs on public services

UCU campaign demands continued rights to basic English language courses, Politics.co.uk

You Have to Learn English.. But Sorry, You Can't!, Indymedia

York Evening Press: John Grogan MP criticised the Government for changing its policy on English language courses, so that from September only people claiming certain benefits would qualify for free tuition. 

NGO and political group blogs have been helping coverage:
Institute of Race Relations: Save ESOL - Stop cuts in English language rights

Migrant English classes cuts row, BBC

Hypocrisy claim over college cuts, Bolton News