UCU warns community cohesion cannot happen without English classes for migrants

Giving evidence to the committee, UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said the issue was a cross-departmental one that affected all areas of life and that had to be reflected in where the money to fund English language classes came from. She said joined-up government thinking was required and equally important was a joined-up approach to footing the bill. Currently the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) is tasked with funding English classes for speakers of foreign or other languages (ESOL classes).

Hunt drew on UCU's evidence to the committee that highlighted the folly of forcing spouses of migrants to wait a year, and families three years, before they can receive subsidised English classes. She warned that this could only harm prospects for integration and cohesion as it will reinforce isolation for these people and hamper prospects of settlement.  She added that while there is a national framework it is important for local authorities and FE colleges to respond to local communities.

She also raised concerns that workers who were deemed a priority in one area may find they have no access to subsidised or free English classes if they are forced to move to find or follow work.

Hunt also said there is a strong case for the compulsion of employers to fund ESOL, as voluntarism has not worked. She drew attention to agency workers and made explicitly clear that agency employers should fund ESOL provision for employees.

She also pointed out that English language is important not just in economic terms but for workers to fully express themselves and to access civil society.

UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Countless reports back our own evidence that the ability to speak English is fundamental to community cohesion and allowing people to be able to work and live in this country. The swingeing cuts to ESOL provision have affected the very people the government says it wants to embrace this country. Whilst they are being forced to wait for subsidised classes, or excluded altogether, they are falling further behind.

'Evidence shows that learning the language on arrival in this country is the best way to get people out of poverty and into their local community. It is the responsibility of, and in the interests of, numerous government departments to ensure people are not excluded from being able to learn English and that must be reflected in who picks up the tab. We, literally, cannot afford the most needy and vulnerable in society to become further marginalised through an inability to learn and speak the language of this country.'