UCU Lobby will press Parliament to save English language courses

[Harold F. Schiffman]

UCU: Lobby of Parliament will press government to save English
language courses

Thursday, 22 Feb 2007 14:49

Government plans to restrict access to free English language courses will
be opposed at a lobby of Parliament on Wednesday 28 February. At a meeting
in the House of Commons to be held simultaneously, Paul Mackney, joint
general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), will outline
deep concerns not just for the students' English but also for the future
direction of the country. Bill Rammell MP, minister for lifelong learning,
who is attending, will be pressed to shift to a policy which would benefit
community cohesion in Britain from one which campaigners say will badly
damage it. Other speakers will include MPs from Labour, Liberal Democrat
and Conservative parties, Lord Bill Morris, college principals, senior
national trade unionists, and spokespeople from the Refugee Council and
organisations representing language tutors and adult education tutors and
students.

Hundreds of people from as far away as Newcastle will attend the events in
Westminster. Two coach loads of staff and students are coming from one
college. They will explain to MPs the value of courses that will be
jeopardised despite massive waiting lists of people wishing to study ESOL.
140 MPs have signed a motion (EDM) calling for a policy rethink. Over 50
organisations launched a 'Save ESOL' campaign in January and the campaign
continues to gather momentum. Many college principals are backing the
campaign. A debate on ESOL is scheduled for the Lords on Monday 26
February. UCU says that the contribution of ESOL is educational, social
and economic and the cost of increasing provision could easily be met from
not just the education and skills budget but also from the Home Office and
DTI, if 'joined-up government' was applied. The union wants chancellor
Gordon Brown to reconsider ESOL's funding in the current comprehensive
spending review

UCU joint general secretary Paul Mackney said:

'There has been an astonishing response to UCU's call for a united
campaign to save ESOL. In just a few weeks we have stirred a national
debate and revealed a huge, broad consensus of opinion against the
government's plans. 'Now Bill Rammell and the government have got to make
a choice: between policies which will help create the social cohesion they
say they want - or policies which will contribute to social division and
bitterness. 'The financial cost of cohesion is tiny and affordable,
particularly when you think that the cost of schooling migrant workers has
already been born by their country of origin. The social cost of rejecting
this investment could be disastrous.' The meeting takes place in Committee
Room 14 from 11.00 to 2.30. Paul Mackney opens the event at 11.00. Bill
Rammell speaks at 11.30, followed by testimony from tutors, students and
education professionals.

Background:

The government is intending to end universal entitlement to free ESOL
courses (up to level 2) from August 2007. Only people unemployed or
receiving benefits will be entitled to fee remission. Students - mostly
adults in jobs paying the minimum wage or less - will have to pay over 30%
of costs in 2007 rising to 50% by 2010. This is likely to leave many
thousands of people unable to afford language classes, including low
income families in minority communities, thousands of essential migrant
workers and smaller numbers of refugees and asylum seekers. The planned
ESOL restrictions follow the loss of 675,000* student places in adult and
community learning, FE and work-based learning last year - cuts also
opposed by UCU. (*TES FE Focus 12/01/07)  Critics say there is a
contradiction in the government's stance: on the one hand encouraging
greater community cohesion and welcoming the economic contribution of
migrant workers - while putting obstacles in the way of many who wish to
improve their English and contribute more to their community and the
economy.

The Lobby and Westminster Meeting:

The Meeting takes place in Committee Room 14 from 11.00 to 2.30. Paul
Mackney opens the event. Bill Rammell speaks at 11.30 , followed by
testimony from tutors, students and education professionals. Speakers
include: Lord Bill Morris, Anna Reisenberger (Refugee Council), Joanne
Gaukroger (principal of Tower Hamlets college), Ellie Morris (NUS), Jack
Dromey (TGWU), Alan Tuckett (NIACE), Francis O'Grady (TUC), Ruth Serwoka
(LSC), Iren Austin (Natecla), Lee Jasper (GLA).

http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=32009&SESSION=885

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