April 28th 2007 - Over 1,000 join Save ESOL Demonstration in Hackney, London - details here
News - Report and video of 23rd March Parliamentary debate on ESOL provision here
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They make a mockery of Tony Blair's much trumpeted claims in 1997 to a commitment to 'education, education, education' and Lifelong Learning.
In the context of the billions being spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the billions earmarked for a new generation of Trident, they display New Labour's slavish devotion to neo-liberal market priorities and disregard of people's needs.
UCU's leaders Paul Mackney and Roger Kline were right to launch a national campaign to defend ESOL provision. In the context of the growing Islamophibic fallout from the so-called 'war on terror', when New Labour ministers have been attacking the rights of women to wear the niqab, and ministers propose that college and university lecturers should spy on 'muslim looking' students, cuts to ESOL provision constitute an intensely political issue. The proposed shift of provision from colleges to Job Centres would also enable even further controls over such vulnerable students.
These cuts are particularly vicious. Migrants and refugees come here hoping to find safety, security and work and want to make a contribution to society. The figures indicate that they make a net economic contribution through taxes. They have traditionally been encouraged to fill the often low-paid and insecure jobs which otherwise cannot be filled.
Yet on the one hand government ministers criticise migrant communities for allegedly failing to make sufficient efforts to fit in, but on the other hand they are now making it harder, in many cases impossible, for such people to access the English language skills which would enable them to play a much more active part in society and work.
In addition, as one ESOL tutor put it:
"Job Centres contract ESOL out to private providers. Students always return to us complaining about the quality of these classes. Teachers work on low hourly paid rates and in poor working conditions. They teach large mixed level classes, so standards cannot compare to FE. They do not have the same equipment and disability access available in colleges. Such a drop in standards and access to provision will inevitably impact on deprived inner city areas where there is a large immigrant population. This will have a knock-on effect on other services and other people in the community."
The supreme irony is that in many colleges there are long waiting lists for ESOL courses. Classes would be full and teaching staff fully employed, and students would rapidly growin confidence.
UCU Left believes that lecturers should be prepared to organise industrial action to defend college provision, defend education, and defend our jobs.
Latest - National ESOL Campaign News (here)
Latest - Local ESOL Campaigning Activities (here)
28/02/07 - UCU Left Leaflet - 28th Feb Lobby (here)
19/02/07 - Radio 4's debate on ESOL provision (listen here)
09/01/07 - 'The Unkindest Cut' - Guardian article (here)
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