 |
 |
I agree with you James that this is despicable, unkind and certainly not 'joined up' with other government policies about migrant labour or general principles about offering asylum. I'd be happy to sign an open letter to the LSC and the media - Kathy ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Simpson" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, October 29, 2006 10:43 PM Subject: more on cutting ESOL funding Hello! I am writing again about the recent decision by the LSC to cut funding for ESOL lessons for low paid migrant workers and for asylum seekers. I view this as a disgraceful and illiberal move. As I have maintained here before, withdrawing free ESOL lessons from migrant workers from the EU possibly contravenes European law, specifically article 14 of the European convention on the legal status of migrant workers. As for withdrawing funding for asylum seekers, I think the LSC should be ashamed of themselves. ESOL lessons, as we all know, are a lifeline for learners who are asylum seekers, and to take this away from them is a callous move. I would very much like to know what others think about this, and what people are considering in response. Here is the original LSC press release about its annual statement of priorities where the announcement concerning funding was made. The link to the .pdf is http://www.lsc.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/eksfo755wbgeubgteivb7k6dyimswhat4yc6snq7 zipfd3rsobv7n4nlvqdr4gtmnpmbbzvu7zreie/pr388annualstatementofpriorities.pdf Alternatively go to the LSC home page, go to ‘media channel’, then follow the link to “LSC reveals top priorities for 2007-08” The announcement about funding is buried towards the end. The actual quote is: ‘From 2007/08 ESOL learning will no longer attract automatic fee remission. Free tuition will still be available to priority groups, for example, for people who are unemployed or receiving income-based benefits. […] To bring FE funding in line with other Government departments, asylum seekers will no longer be automatically eligible for publicly funded FE provision from 2007/08 (except those granted refugee status, humanitarian protection or discretionary leave by the Government). The Refugee Council was quick off the mark with a response: http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/news/press/2006/october/pr_learning_and_sk ills.htm Leeds-based people might want to contact Lydia Brown at RETAS, who are coordinating a local response. (Thanks Lydia for this information) Lydia Brown, Advisor, Refugee Education Training Advisory Service, 335 Roundhay Road, Leeds, LS8 4HT, 0113 2407320. [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> Here again is a link to the original article in the Guardian which brought this to my attention: http://education.guardian.co.uk/tefl/story/0,,1929455,00.html Angela Keenan writes from Tadcaster reminding us of the June 2005 KPMG review of ESOL (Thanks Angela). I had read this before, but hadn’t noticed it was commissioned by the LSC and the Skills for Life Strategy Unit. It may have informed the recent decision about funding, perhaps. It strikes me as a lightweight and superficial study. It does not, however, recommend withdrawing funding for ESOL for asylum seekers. Here is a link: http://www.thelearningcampus.co.uk/uploads/kpmg-review-of-english-for- speakers-of-other-languages.pdf Cheers James *********************************** ESOL-Research is a forum for researchers and practitioners with an interest in research into teaching and learning ESOL. ESOL-Research is managed by James Simpson at the Centre for Language Education Research, School of Education, University of Leeds. To join or leave ESOL-Research, visit http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ESOL-RESEARCH.html To contact the list owner, send an email to [log in to unmask] *********************************** ESOL-Research is a forum for researchers and practitioners with an interest in research into teaching and learning ESOL. ESOL-Research is managed by James Simpson at the Centre for Language Education Research, School of Education, University of Leeds. To join or leave ESOL-Research, visit http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ESOL-RESEARCH.html To contact the list owner, send an email to [log in to unmask]