Campaign for English lessons goes to the top

3.45.54pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 6th Feb 2007

Councillor John Briggs has taken his fight for English classes for speakers of other languages to representatives of the Government.

At a regional meeting in Leeds with representatives of the Dept for Education and Skills and members of community groups including the Learning and Skills Council , Further Education colleges and the Refugee Council he defended the right of members of the settled community to learn to speak English.

He said,

" People who live permanently in the UK must be able to speak English if they are to integrate with the community and play a full part in community life. But if they don't have access to English classes how can they learn?

For employed people, a pay slip showing that they have a legitimate job should be sufficient identification to gain access to English classes.

I sensed at the meeting that the Government officials were listening to what we were saying and might be beginning to change their minds.

Making it difficult for people to learn English cuts right across other government policies about community cohesion and makes no sense at all."

Cllr Briggs secured the support Bradford Council for his campaign at its meeting on January 23rd when they agreed to following:

This Council notes that

1. The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is considering funding cuts which will have a serious impact on the availability of Education for Speakers of Other Languages ( ESOL ) including members of the settled community in Bradford.

2. The Learning Partnership has written to the LSC to express its concern about the loss of this funding and the likely outcome for community cohesion and the education chances of children born in Bradford, when members of the settled community are unable to learn English

This Council calls upon the Chief Executive to write to the Learning and Skills Council and the Minister of State for Lifelong Learning in support of the Bradford and District Learning Partnership.