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ESOL and citizenship
Project Status: Completed
2 February 2004 - 31 March 2004
In September 2002 the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, announced the Government’s intention to make becoming a British citizen a more meaningful event. He asked an advisory group chaired by Sir Bernard Crick “to consider how best to achieve the Government’s plans to promote language skills and practical knowledge about the United Kingdom for those seeking to become British citizens.” ‘The New and the Old’ is the report of the “Life in the United Kingdom” Advisory Group and was published in 2003.
The Crick recommendations include a programme of studies that will lead to legal citizenship. The report proposes six broad categories of study: British national institutions, Britain as a multi-cultural society, the law, employment, sources of help and information and everyday needs. Crick also recognises that lots of applicants will have been active in their own community, in mosques, temples, youth groups and faith groups so the Crick Report also recommends that a programme of self-study to develop a portfolio of civic learning, volunteering or civic participation could be an alternative. The report recognises that no final assessment of English language skills will suit all cases. A short written test could be taken or a unit of achievement or full qualification awarded by a national awarding body.
NIACE has been invited by the Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit (ABSSU) to write a scoping paper proposing how the ESOL citizenship course and the test might be developed. NIACE and the London Language and Literacy Unit (LLLU) will work closely together to deliver the first phase of this project by 31 March.
NIACE will produce a scoping document which sets out broad areas of content for two citizenship programmes which will develop the learners’ knowledge of life in the UK and support application for citizenship. The content will draw on existing good practice in ESOL provision and the recommendations of the Crick report. The proposed citizenship programmes and content will be mapped to the National Literacy standards. The scoping document will consider a range of delivery models including 2 hr sessions and intensive courses.
In this work, NIACE wants to:
 | develop a learner-centred approach, which values the voices and experiences of ESOL learners and practitioners. |
| build on the best practice in ESOL language teaching and learning and citizenship available nationally. |
| reflect equal opportunities policy and practice in relation to race, gender, disability and age. |
However, NIACE also recognises the challenges:
| Insufficient ESOL provision and current waiting lists. |
| If all residents who are eligible come forward for the citizenship course and test, how will expectations be met?. |
| The current shortage of teaching expertise in ESOL and the capacity of language teachers. |
| Most learners and some providers, especially in the voluntary sector, have limited access to e-learning. |
| For further information about this project, please contact Narzny Khan (narzny.khan@niace.org.uk), Tel: 0116 2044 293 or Chris Taylor ( chris.taylor@niace.org.uk ), Tel: 0116 2044 267 at NIACE. |
