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Salter Backs English Lessons for Migrants
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Martin Salter, MP for Reading West, has today called for the government to reconsider the withdrawal of funding for classes in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), which provides an essential skill for migrant workers enabling them to integrate more fully into their local community and workplace.
Currently, ESOL courses are free but changes to funding proposed by the Learning and Skills Council will mean that low paid migrant workers in Reading and across England will have to find up to £400 to get an ESOL qualification. The vast majority of migrant workers are in jobs which pay less than £5.99 per hour, so paying to learn English out of this will simply be beyond their means. Mr Salter signed Early Day Motion 383, “English for Speakers of Other Languages Funding”, which calls on the government to review this position in recognition of the importance and benefits of learning English for migrant workers. Mr Salter said: “At a time when the issue of community cohesion is high up on the agenda it seems wrong that we could see the removal of an important tool in increasing integration. Learning English helps to promote understanding and mutual respect of our culture whilst helping to combat social isolation, racism and the influence of extremism. "I know in Reading West that the Workers’ Educational Association has for many years offered free ESOL Classes to women from many different ethnic backgrounds and that this has had a positive impact. "To remove funding such as this, and at a time when we should be investing more in strengthening our local communities, seems irresponsible and ill thought-out. It is essential that we do not find ourselves in a situation where we have migrant workers may want to learn English but simply do not have the funds to do so.” 02/02/07 |
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