Dear all,
I am aware that there are organisations
who are offering, at a price, short "Citizenship" courses.
There
is no legal reason why "Preparation for Citizenship test"
courses should not be offered. However there is no designated funding for
such courses and therefore providers have to charge.These courses should enable
people (whose English is above E3 level) to study and discuss Life in the UK
handbook in order that they have a better chance at passing
test.
The issue is that participants are led to believe that
they can get a certificate,which avoids the need for them to take the Life in
the UK test.
This is only possible if the provider is registered
with one of the main accreditation bodies and can therefore organise an
Entry level Skills for life Listening and Speaking exam for
learners.
There is some evidence that these exams have been
organised, but the awarding bodies concerned are under investigation and have
withdrawn their approval when it has been shown to them that a particular
organisation is not offering bona fide ESOL courses leading to their
qualification.
However it is important to continue to expose
such providers,so please ensure that they are reported.
Jan Luff
(ABNI)
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask];
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CC: [log in to unmask];
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Subject: RE: Earned citizenship:
another brick in the wall of fortress Europe
Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008
01:14:50 +0000
Dear All
ABNI does not approve or accredit courses nor, as far as I am
aware, does the Home Office. The Home Office clearly sets out the
requirements for citizenship on its websites and the information it sends out
to candidates as reiterated by Fatma. ABNI and the Life in the UK group,
its predecessor, advocated courses on Citizenship for those candidates
with English language skills above Entry 3 delivered by bona fide
organisations and supported by state funding, there was no expectation that
they or the Home Office would formally approve these as neither has the
infrastructure to do so nor would they wish to create a whole new bureaucratic
layer. ABNI and the Home Office are both concerned about organisations
who are exploiting prospective applicants and propogating misleading
information. ABNI will continue to raise these issues with officials/MPs and
we shall get back to you with the outcomes of our discussions.
Please
keep us informed.
All the best
Celine
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> Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 10:37:20
+0000
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Earned
citizenship: another brick in the wall of fortress Europe
> To:
[log in to unmask]
>
> Yes this is a good question. I
am not aware of any qualification being
> recognized by the Home Office
outside the ones agreed by QCA. If there
> are internal courses on
Citizenship accepted by the H.O then we can all
> apply for the
recognition of our own, that of course will save time for
> our
learners.
>
> >>> Cathy Burns <[log in to unmask]>
25/02/2008 14:54 >>>
>
> Does this info need to go to
ABNI? Are these short courses definitely
> Home
> Office
approved?
>
>
> Cathy
> NATECLA National
Centre
>
> In a message dated 25/02/2008 14:09:08 GMT Standard
Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
>
Citizenship is a hot topic amongst ESOL learners in my area too. Many
>
E1,2
> and 3 learners who are not up to taking the on-line Citizenship
test,
> are
> being persuaded to join short, 7-week courses.
These are being
> advertised
> locally with the promise of an
ESOL certificate at the end, as well
> evidence
> of 20 hours' of
Citizenship, all for the princely sum of £190. Some of
> these
>
learners are already in ESOL classes (like my own) with other
>
providers,
> usually taking a year to progress a level in speaking and
listening
> (and
> R&W) and to cover some Citizenship
material.
>
> Although I understand that such short courses are
approved by the Home
>
> Office, I find the whole business
distasteful
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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