Hello all
I can't help feeling cynical about this consultation, brought to our attention by Lydia at RETAS. This is also the first I've heard about the exercise, and I wonder exactly how widely it has been advertised. However, I would strongly advise anyone with an interest in this matter to try to get an invitation for one of the remaining consultation sessions - you never know, attendance and vocal opposition there might do some good. But seeing as there are only 20 places for each of the remaining three meetings, and seeing as the first two largely passed us by, I suspect getting hold of an invitation might be like trying to find one of Willy Wonka's golden tickets.
You will also have seen the info about the UCU meeting on this issue in London next Monday. Supporting this action, plus encouraging your MP to sign up to Early Day Motion 383, are also good moves at this stage. I am pasting the whole of the announcement about the UCU meeting at the end of this message, after Lydia's - it contains useful info.
Cheers
James
________________________________
From: ESOL-Research discussion forum on behalf of Melanie Cooke
Sent: Thu 1/4/2007 3:57 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Funding for ESOL
This is certainly good news, but I notice that the London meeting has
taken place already. This one passed me by, and I am wondering if
anyone went to the London one and what the gist of the discussion/input
was?
Quoting Lydia Brown <[log in to unmask]>:
> Dear All,
>
> Good News on efforts to change the LSC's priorities for 2007!
>
> Owing to considerable pressure the DFES and LSC have agreed to host
> some consultation meetings on the issue of cuts to ESOL classes for
> asylum seekers (please see attached email). We think this is an
> excellent development and we would like to encourage you to attend
> these meetings, especially if you feel strongly that the LSC should
> continue to fund ESOL for vulnerable asylum seekers. The one in
> Leeds is on the 12th of January at the KPMG offices in the city
> centre. Two members of the RETAS staff will be there (Jessica
> Parker, Communications, and myself). If you can't make it but would
> like to feed your comments to the discussion group please email Mark
> Johnson at [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> or hit reply to this email and tell us what you want to be relayed
> to the forum.
>
> Also, RETAS (Refugee Education & Training Advisory Service) have just
> released a response paper to the LSC's statement of priorities
> (please see the attached document). We are using this as an
> educational and lobbying tool and would invite you to do the same.
> Please feel free to send a copy to anyone who you think could find it
> beneficial! It will also be distributed at the meeting on the 12th.
>
> Many thanks to all of you who signed the letter James Simpson sent
> off and who have helped RETAS put this response paper together - we
> remain optimistic that these will have an influence.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Lydia Brown
>
> Advisor
>
> Refugee Education Training Advisory Service (RETAS)
>
> 335 Roundhay Road
>
> Leeds
>
> T: 0113 2407320
>
> F: 0113 2407152
>
> [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
> Part of 'Education Action International'
>
>
Save ESOL - Stop cuts in English language rights
Planning Meeting ;
Monday 15th January 4pm to 6pm
University and College Union (UCU)
27 Britannia Street
London
WC1X 9JP
Concern is mounting rapidly over new funding restrictions on English as a Second Language. On 15 January UCU, working with the AoC, ACM, NATECLA, NIACE, Refugee Council, Unison, USDAW and others, is convening a meeting to launch a campaign for the restoration of entitlement. Travel expenses for delegates from outside London will be met (max two per branch).
Proposed Changes
* 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. UCU head of equality Roger Kline points out: 'These changes fly in the face of the government's stated concern for integration and social cohesion and will make life even more difficult for thousands of vulnerable people.'
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.
The DfES is currently undertaking a Race Equality Impact Assessment on the changes to ESOL funding. In a letter to Education Secretary, Alan Johnson, UCU general secretary Paul Mackney has pointed out that those more likely to be affected by the cuts are women and Black and Minority Ethnic Groups.
Building Alliances
We are now forming alliances with various organisations. With your help we intend to develop a campaign that tackles the planned changes to funding and raises the challenges that those most in need of free English language provision will face.
We have a planning meeting on January 15 2007 at UCU in Britannia Street. There will be a range of speakers and discussion about the future of the campaign. We hope that you will be able to come along and participate.
Local Activity
There are plenty of ways to get involved. You can:
* Write to your MP, ask them to sign Early Day Motion 383 or get your MP to ask a question in parliament
* Hold a public meeting at your college involving the community and press
* Send us your stories - your own or your students' - to [log in to unmask]
* Link up with your local refugee and community groups
* Organise activity with your local trades council
If you have direct experience or teach students who will be affected by cuts to ESOL
Please contact [log in to unmask] or sign up online to register as a supporter of the campaign.
Get your MP on board
67 MPS have already signed up to the motion below. Is yours a supporter?
ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES FUNDING - EDM383
That this House regards the ability to read, write and speak English as an essential basic skill for all workers in the UK; welcomes the contribution to the UK economy and to the diversity of the population that migrant workers make; recognises that many migrant workers need basic training in English to help them integrate, be aware of their rights and to make a full contribution to society; further welcomes the role that trade unions and employers make in promoting and facilitating lifelong learning opportunities for all workers, including migrant workers; is concerned that funding for training in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) is due to be cut back at the end of this academic year; is further concerned that, as a consequence, low paid and vulnerable migrant workers will lose access to ESOL learning; and calls on the Government to reinstate appropriate funding for ESOL learning particularly for those least able to afford to pay for their own training.
http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=32009&SESSION=885
Signed by ;
David Crausby, Ian Stewart, Gordon Prentice, Graham Stringer, Brian Jenkins, Evan Harris, Lindsay Hoyle, Ann McKechin, Albert Owen, Anthony D Wright, Bob Spink, Glenda Jackson, Lynne Jones, Karen Buck, Ann Cryer, Andrew Dismore, Jim Dobbin, Hywel Francis, Mike Hancock, Janet Anderson, Peter Bottomley, David Taylor, John Leech, Stephen Williams, Greg Pope, Jim Sheridan, David Heyes, Brian Iddon, Colin Breed, Gregory Campbell, Ronnie Campbell, Martin Caton, Mark Durkan, Desmond Turner, Kelvin Hopkins, George Mudie, Janet Dean, David Drew,
David S Borrow, Rudi Vis, John McDonnell, Bill Etherington, Betty Williams, John Hemming, Rob Marris, Harry Cohen, Andrew Stunell, Alan Simpson, Alasdair McDonnell, Nigel Dodds, Jeff Ennis, Diane Abbott, David Hamilton, Paul Keetch, Sammy Wilson, Tony Lloyd, Jim Cousins, Ian Gibson, Nia Griffith, Madeleine Moon, Marsha Singh, Kevan Jones, Andrew Love, Wayne David, Louise Ellman, Mark Todd.
To find out how to get in touch with your local MP, please click or visit http://www.theyworkforyou.com/
The campaign starts here !
Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London. Invited. Speakers from various organisations AND YOU!
The ESOL Alliance
AoC http://www.aoc.co.uk/
ACM http://www.acm.uk.com/
NATECLA http://www.natecla.org.uk/
NIACE http://www.niace.org.uk/
Refugee Council http://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/
Unison http://www.unison.org.uk/
USDAW http://www.usdaw.org.uk/
End of Bulletin:
Source for this Message:
University and College Union
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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
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