More Cuts to Further and Adult Education
On 26th February, the govt proposed 24% cuts to the adult education budget in England . This will decimate Further and Adult provision, including ESOL, and has been called a “wilful act of vandalism” by the Union of University and College lecturers (UCU).
Sign the Petition
We are calling on all our supporters to circulate and sign the petition launched by UCU and campaign partners including National Union of Students (NUS), Trade Union Congress (TUC), 157 group, the Association of Colleges (AoC), UNISON, National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) and Unite, which has already collected nearly almost 15,000 signatures.
Join the Parliamentary Lobby – Wednesday 18th March at 1pm
UCU London region has organised a lobby of parliament on 18 March and a protest on 25 March. Download the flyer here: Don’t let them destroy life long learning flyer
We are calling on all ESOL teachers and students to email your local prospective parliamentary candidates using the UCU online tool and ask them to meet you at the Lobby of Parliament next Wednesday 18th March at 1pm.
On the day, there will be a mass picnic on the grass opposite Parliament, hosted by Tower Hamlets College. This will be followed by a photo shoot at 1pm sharp before we go in to Westminster together. Helpers will direct you. The visitors entrance is opposite Parliament square. See here for a map http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/access/directions/
How the lobby works: You will queue up from the visitors entrance and go through security. Then you are in the Palace of Westminster. You will naturally make your way through the building to the Octagon – a reception lobby just outside the Commons. There will be lots of us there by then to explain what to do. It’s easy. You can ’Green card’ your MP at the reception desk. A clerk will take your name and postcode and then go find your MP. Your MP will come and meet you to hear your concerns. You can give them notice you are coming atwww.faxyourmp.com - but this is not necessary, you can just turn up. If your MP is not available they will receive a record of your visit. In previous lobby’s people buddied up if there MPs were not available and had a chance to talk to other MPs and Ministers.
It is budget day so Parliament will be quite busy. After people have met MPs we have a Committee meeting room booked.
Here is a briefing you can use with some facts.
Don’t let them destroy lifelong learning meeting from 2pm onwards. Committee Room 11
Speakers so far include Sally Hunt UCU, John McDonnell MP, Rushanara Ali MP, Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, NUS, Ian Ashman (AoC) Principal Hackney, Gerry McDonald (AoC) Principal THC. We also have speakers from other trade unions including Christine Lewis, Head of Colleges, UNISON, a national officer from the NUT, UNITE, and the FBU. We are chasing some up and have sent out more invites. We are hoping Meg Hillier MP and Dianne Abbot will also join us – please ask them if they are your MPs.
We have a waves of guest speakers some will arrive at 2pm and others at 3pm. We want everyone who comes on the lobby to join the debate and discussion about why adult education matters. We especially want to encourage as many students as possible to tell us in their own words why adult education is important to them.
Ask your MP to sign the Early Day Motion
An Early Day Motion (EDM) urging the government to rethink the proposed cuts has now garnered 27 MP signatures. Please contact your MP and ask them to sign the early day motion.
Download materials to use in your classes on the cuts
Funding Cuts_writing & reading practice paper
L1 L2 adult education cuts functional skills questions march 15
ucu lobby leaflet
E1 E2 reading and writing education cuts
adult education cuts functional skills questions march 15