Association of Colleges

18 July 2011

Commenting on today’s (18 July) impact assessment of Government’s ESOL funding proposals, Association of Colleges Chief Executive Martin Doel said:

“We are pleased that, following an equality impact assessment,  the Government has accepted that its intended policies in relation to English as a second language would disadvantage particular groups in society and could risk undermining the cohesion and aspirations that it has sought to promote in other policy areas. The statement’s findings echo the conclusion of research undertaken by AoC earlier in the year**

“We have therefore agreed to work with Government to determine how best Colleges may be free to support the communities they serve in the provision of ESOL, including those who cannot afford fees, and in doing so help develop active and economically successful citizens. The areas for consideration may include how we can currently support individuals who could later be reclassified as Employment Support Allowance recipients (and therefore eligible for fee remission), in order to ensure they are not disenfranchised from education. We would also want parents of children aged seven or under to continue to use ESOL as a means through which they play an active part in their children’s education and as a springboard to the labour market.
  
“In this regard, we also look forward to continuing to work closely with Baroness Sharp and her Commission looking at ways in which Colleges function in their communities and Lord Boswell’s work on basic skills. Both of which have connections to ESOL provision.”