THE UK government has pledged an additional ￡15 million to support the teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) courses in London, the Guardian has reported.
The extra money for the 2007-08 academic year has been agreed between the Department for Education and Skills, the Learning and Skills Council, the London Development Agency and the mayor of London.
The ￡15 million pot is part of a wider ￡35 million funding package announced last week to support education in the capital as the government drives its agenda to improve basic skills among adults. This has led to a change in funding priorities for adult education, which has placed restrictions on the eligibility for free English classes for asylum seekers and migrants.
The UK government has tripled funding for ESOL courses since 2001, investing more than ￡1 billion, but this has not matched increasing demand, which has led to long waiting lists for courses. Ministers have said they want to better target funding to those who most need classes — people who have leave to remain in the UK and who could benefit the economy.
The Higher Education and Lifelong Learning Minister, Bill Rammell, said: “The package we have agreed will not only allow continued support for college-based ESOL provision, but will also support colleges to achieve the significant changes which they are making, enabling them to continue to play a leading role in delivering the government’s skills and social inclusion agendas.”
Paul Mackney, the joint general secretary of the University and College Union in the UK, said the union was looking for more information on how it will be spent.
“It is not yet clear which kind of courses the funding will support. A new suite of qualifications is in the pipeline. We’re concerned that quality shouldn’t be compromised,” Mackney said.
