DEPARTMENT FOR
INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS News Release (2008/001) issued
by The Government News Network on 4 January 2008
Public funding for
English language teaching should be targeted where it will have
the biggest impact on community cohesion and integration,
Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills John
Denham announced today.
Under new proposals, the promotion of community cohesion would be
given the highest priority in deciding on funding for English for
Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). This would mean retargeting
spending towards those who have made a long-term commitment to
live in Britain, rather than economic migrants who may only be
here for a short time. In practice this will often mean the most
deprived and socially excluded groups who may find it hard to find
places on ESOL courses today.
The consultation follows a report published last year by the
Commission for Integration and Cohesion, 'Our Shared
Vision', which identified being able to communicate in
English as one of the most important issues facing integration and
cohesion in Britain. The report suggested that English language
binds us together as a single group and vulnerable communities are
being left without the English skills they need to get by.
Mr Denham said:
"The Government is committed to promoting community cohesion
and integration and good English language skills have a vital role
to play in this work.
"Since 2001, spending on ESOL has trebled and over two
million people have been helped to improve their language skills.
But we must make sure that ESOL makes the biggest possible
contribution to improving community cohesion and integration.
"Recent reforms are already ensuring that those who can
afford to pay for English classes do so and are encouraging
employers to take more responsibility for funding training for
economic migrants in their workforces.
"Now we must go further and ensure that the priority is to
reach long-term residents for whom poor English is a real barrier
to integration in work or in the community."
Local communities are best placed to understand what will best
promote community cohesion and integration in their area. In this
consultation we are asking local authorities and other groups how
they would prioritise ESOL funding to achieve these aims.
Reforming ESOL provision is part of a Government-wide effort to
help long-term British residents gain the English language skills
they need to integrate fully into society. In December 2007, the
Department for Communities and Local Government published guidance
to local authorities on translation, calling for a commonsense
approach to ensure that translation facilities do not act as a
disincentive to people learning English. The Home Office is
currently consulting on whether spouses who plan to settle in the
UK should have some knowledge of English prior to arrival. The
Home Office's new points-based system for managing migration
will award points to skilled migrants from outside the European
Economic Area who can speak English before they arrive in the UK.
Today's consultation seeks to take these reforms further and
is seeking views on:
* a new national approach to funding ESOL to help prioritise
funding and ensure local areas develop plans which identify the
needs of vulnerable people, such as legal residents who might be
expected to stay in the country for the foreseeable future,
excluded women, particularly those with young children, and
refugees who have established their right to remain in the UK;
* suggested new national priorities for ESOL while local areas
take responsibility to target funding to best meet the needs of
their communities;
* the role of the voluntary and community sector in the provision
of ESOL; and
* what incentives should be provided to employers to encourage
them to contribute to their employees' ESOL needs.
Darra Singh, Chair of the Commission on Integration and Cohesion, said:
"I am very pleased to endorse the Government's
intention to place community cohesion at the heart of ESOL
provision. I believe that English language skills are fundamental
to integration and cohesion for all communities and help to create
strong, positive relationships between people from different
backgrounds in the workplace, in schools and other institutions
within neighbourhoods. Your views too are very important and I
urge you to get involved in the consultation."
Alan Tuckett, Director of National Institute of Adult Continuing
Education (NIACE), said:
"I warmly welcome Government's recognition of the key
importance of provision of English for Speakers of Other Languages
to community cohesion, and that it continues to consult widely on
policy development in a rapidly evolving field. Access to a
common language is a pre-condition to effective participation at
work and in community life. I welcome, too, the recognition in the
paper that some communities continue to have less access to
provision, and the wider civic engagement it makes possible, and
the clear steer that providers and funders will need to give these
groups priority in the use of available resources."
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said:
"Speaking English is the greatest asset you can possess for
getting involved in your community, and getting on and doing well
for yourself and your family. Research has shown that 60 per cent
of people believe not speaking the language is the biggest barrier
to integration. Not speaking English also reduces opportunities in
the labour market by 20 per cent. That is why we need to put
greater emphasis on learning English as well as ensuring a
commonsense approach is applied to translation."
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne added:
"It is vital that those we welcome into the UK to work and
settle here play by the rules, learn English and use our language.
People who want to come to the UK permanently, or as highly
skilled workers are required to speak English. Now we want to go
further and insist that anyone coming to Britain to work speaks English."
- Ends -
Notes to editors:
1. The consultation 'Focusing English for Speakers of Other
Languages on Community Cohesion' can be viewed at http://www.esolconsultation.org.uk.
The consultation will run until 4 April 2008 and is a full public
consultation. Our national priorities for ESOL include:
* Legal residents who might be expected to stay in the country
for the foreseeable future;
* Excluded women, or those at risk of being excluded,
particularly those with children under 16;
* Parents or carers within families at risk of multiple or
complex problems;
* Those identified as raising particular issues for community cohesion;
* Those having no or low levels of literacy in their own language;
* Those who have not had any secondary education;
* Refugees; and
* Asylum seekers who are still in the country beyond six months
awaiting a decision on their status or who cannot return home.
2. Further background on the recent changes to ESOL policy,
including information on the new ESOL for Work qualifications, can
be found on the following links: http://www.dius.gov.uk/press/16-10-07.html
- ESOL for Work press notice http://www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus/Planning_and_Funding
- ESOL background http://www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus/bank.cfm?section=954-
ESOL Race Equality Impact Assessment
3. On 5 December the Home Office set out plans to ensure that
migrants can integrate into communities through strengthened
requirements for English language. For further details, see http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/planstomanagemigration
4. On 7 December the Department for Communities and Local
Government (DCLG) published guidance on translation for public
bodies in response to The Commission on Integration and
Cohesion's report Our Shared Futures. For further
information, see http://www.communities.gov.uk.
5. The Commission on Integration and Cohesion recommended a
review of elements of ESOL provision. DCLG and DIUS are jointly
running two citizens' juries looking specifically at this issue.
6. On 10 December DIUS published 'English Language at work:
Work-based English for speakers of other languages', a best
practice guide which showcases the achievements of employers,
unions and providers who have facilitated English language
learning opportunities for their employees. This can be downloaded
at http://www.dius.gov.uk.
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