ACTION FOR ESOL

In order to address recent concerns over ESOL funding and the Citizenship agenda, a Parliamentary meeting has been called by Heidi Alexander MP /Action for ESOL at the Houses of Parliament for 3-5pm on Monday 18th March. The meeting will take place in Committee Room 5.

The event is open to all with an interest in ESOL. We would like a mix of ESOL students and practitioners to take part so we would be especially grateful if teachers could invite their students to participate.

All ESOL supporters and students who are concerned by recent developments should consider writing to their MPs and suggest that they attend. This can be done very easily through the following website: http://www.writetothem.com/. Students may want to prepare questions to ask MPs when they are there.

We would particularly like people who can give insight on:

• Funding
• Case studies
• Research into time needed to learn languages.
• Barriers to learners accessing provision.

However all are welcome, whatever their connection to ESOL

There is no need to pre-register to attend, but attendees should bear in mind that getting through security at the Palace of Westiminster can take some time (details here: http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/access/security). And, in case of rain and long queues – don’t forget to bring an umbrella!

In view of recent activities concerning cuts to ESOL funding and Miliband’s immigration speech, Action for ESOL has called a meeting on Saturday January 12th at 11am at St. Margaret’s House, 21 Old Ford Rd, Bethnal Green, E2 9PL. The venue is a few minutes walk from Bethnal Green underground.

The meeting is open to everyone so please forward to your networks, staffrooms, etc.

Provisional agenda :
· Funding for ’13-14 and beyond
· Immigration speeches
· ESOL qualifications (proposals to link these more closely with immigration controls)
· Cuts to ESOL in Lambeth and other councils
· Meeting with MPs
· Next meeting – location and date
· AOB

The room will be booked from 11am to 2pm to allow time for some lunch and for some collaborative writing for the Action for ESOL website, press releases, letters to MPs/ councils/etc for those that wish to participate.

Please forward to your lists and look forward to seeing you there

Miliband on One Nation, English and common bonds       14th December 2012

The leader of the opposition, Ed Miliband, said on 14^th December that ‘English language must be a priority’ in Labour’s ‘One Nation’. Action for ESOL would welcome full funding of ESOL classes for all who need them, both newcomers and residents alike. But we cannot rely solely on ‘local authorities, communities and charities’ to meet the need: if Labour is serious about English language learning, it must guarantee to make funding a government spending priority. The cuts made both by the Coalition and previous Labour governments have greatly reduced the provision of ESOL classes in recent years, especially in those community settings where it is needed most. It is this that is the biggest obstacle stopping people from learning English.

We would also stress that although access to English should be available to everyone, integration is a complex process, not reducible to a set of responsibilities for migrants. Lack of integration and cohesion – Miliband’s ‘common bonds’ – is more likely to be caused by class inequality, poverty and racism, and cannot be reduced to simplistic notions of English language competence.

ESOL News aims to keep students and their teachers informed about
the policy changes and developments affecting them as well as giving students the opportunity to contribute to debate and the longer term future and direction of ESOL provision.

ESOL News aims to be a regular topical newsletter for the ESOL community written by students and teachers themselves.

In issue 2 we feature the recent changes to immigration rules and the ESOL Manifesto, as well as student views on exams and their poems and stories. Also information on the Call out to take action! the AfE demo challenging recent government rules on immigration.

Wondering what to do with your class tomorrow morning? Look no further!

ESOL News is accompanied by a range of teaching and learning materials at different levels based on the articles and stories in the main publication. Our aim is to provide teachers with a topical and timely resource bank which will inform and support teachers to address real-world issues affecting students in their classrooms. Materials (both paper-based and online) as well as an ‘interactive’ version of ESOL News and lots of other resources and ideas are available on our website.

Check it out at www.esolnews.org

We are keen to hear from students and teachers who would like to help and contribute to future issues. Please get in touch with us if you want to get involved. We’d also appreciate constructive feedback on what we have done so far.

Thank you
The ESOL News Team

Statement from Action for ESOL on Miliband’s Speech

As ESOL teachers, students and supporters we feel the impact of every Government’s immigration agenda. We oppose the division of workers and celebrate diversity. Across the UK, ordinary people, whatever their backgrounds, are facing the same attacks on their living conditions. We are proud of the diversity which is modern Britain. To confront the problems we all face, multi-culturalism, tolerance and mutual respect are indispensable.

David Cameron’s attack on multi-culturalism and accusation that migrants refuse to integrate and learn English was a blatant attempt to divide the opposition to the government’s austerity program. There is no lack of will to learn English as the long waiting lists clearly show; there is a lack of affordable classes though.

It is appalling that the leader of the opposition, Ed Miliband, chose, in his recent speech, to try to identify immigrants as a cause of lack of housing, lack of jobs and low wages. There is no evidence to suggest that immigrants are to blame for these social problems. In fact, all the evidence shows that:

· Migrants pay £2.5 billion more in taxes than they receive through public services such as the NHS.

· Migrants are less likely to receive welfare or live in social housing than those born in the UK.

· Asylum seekers do not jump the queue for council housing, they cannot choose where they live.

We condemn Miliband’s statement, particularly at a time when maximum unity is essential in order to defend decent homes, jobs, and public services for all.

Action for ESOL has launched a petition calling on supporters to condemn the recent immigration speech by Ed Miliband.

Please click here to sign the petition.

**PRESS NOTICE**

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press contacts: Melanie Cooke 07880 948 564

James Simpson 0113 343 4687

Action for ESOL, in conjunction with the Migrants Rights Network and the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, strongly opposes government plans, announced by the UK Border Agency on June 13, to raise the level of English language and literacy required for British citizenship and settlement in the UK. Along with other controversial changes, many of which come into effect on Monday, anyone who is a spouse or family member applying for settlement in the UK from October 2013 will be required to pass an intermediate level English language examination, in addition to the Life in the UK Test. At the same time, the current entitlement to take English and citizenship classes in lieu of the Life in the UK test will be scrapped.

Action for ESOL believes the level of the tests is too high. Many would-be citizens, who, as a result of conflict, gender discrimination or poverty, possess poor literacy skills in their native languages will find this level far out of their reach.

Many would-be applicants of lower language ability will be denied the right to study and improve their English in ‘ESOL and Citizenship’ classes as part of their route to settlement, as they are currently able to do. Rather than promoting English language learning for those seeking settlement, the new measure will greatly reduce opportunities for many who might otherwise have been able to develop their English language proficiency to become fully integrated British citizens. The new rule is therefore incompatible with the government view that ‘English Language is the corner-stone of integration’.

Action for ESOL believes these changes are discriminatory and racist and little more than a vote-grasping strategy which will be to the detriment of poor working class and minority ethnic communities.

For details about the changes in immigration rules see www.migrantsrights.org.uk

For more information about Action for ESOL visit  actionforesol.org

Action for ESOL calls on you to TAKE ACTION!

Why? The government has announced changes to family immigration rules which will stop UK residents on lower incomes from bringing their spouses to the UK. Spouses who are allowed into the UK will have to wait five years and be forced to sit an Entry 3 ESOL exam and take the Life in the UK test in order to get settlement. This is unfair and discriminatory. Action for ESOL is joining JCWI  (Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants) and the Migrants Rights Network in taking action against the changes.

What? Demonstration at the Home Office

When? Monday 9th July at 16:30

Where? Meet at The Home Office building on Marsham Street, London SW1 4DF  

Bring: colleagues, friends, outrage and wedding gear (optional)

Manifesto Campaign Meeting Agenda final 3.3.12