Dramatic impact of how learning can help overcome exclusion for women Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 13:25

The Government should do more to help the most disadvantaged women take part in learning, is the main message from a book published by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE). Dare to Dream: Learning journeys of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Somali women looks at the many factors that can prevent participation in learning and what can be done to overcome these barriers.

Dare to Dream highlights the fact that while many Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Somali women are achieving in learning, employment and society, far too many have low English language skills, are less likely to be in work, have lower incomes and fewer opportunities to participate in social and civic society than women from other ethnic groups.

Sophia, for example, came to the UK six years ago. Although her local community is very supportive of her learning English, her husband is not. She said:

“My husband says there is no point in me learning English when I am going to spend the rest of my entire life looking after his children and his family… He shattered my dreams of learning English and gaining self-confidence.”

Khadra’s lack of English prevents her from gaining a better understanding of English society, her human rights and her children’s rights. She said:

“I feel somewhat blindfolded as I’m not always aware of what I’m entitled to, where I can go to find useful information and improving my English will give me the confidence to find this out.”

Leyla arrived in the UK 14 years ago as a refugee from Somalia and despite having attended University, run her own business and worked at the Algerian Embassy, she didn’t think she could learn English. After taking a number of courses in English, IT and maths, she is more confident about her position in her community and works as an interpreter and translator for others in the Somali community. She said:

“Without any type of education you are nothing.”

Jane Ward, author of the book and Senior Development Officer for NIACE, said:

“The research for Dare to Dream provides powerful evidence of the diverse factors that can hinder women from taking up learning. These include poverty, living circumstances, the burden of domestic labour and gender oppression as well as lack of accessible learning provision and affordable childcare. The book also highlights the ways in which these can be addressed and puts forward a community outreach framework to support those planning provision to identify need and strategies to implement.” She continued, “These barriers to learning must be overcome in pursuit of a more equal and just society in which the most excluded Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Somali women are enabled to move from the margins and gain more independence, equality and choice. We are therefore calling upon the government to establish and fund a national community outreach development programme.”

Source: Press Release: "Dramatic impact of how learning can help overcome exclusion for women" - [PDF] Released On 30/10/2008

Purchase Dare to Dream from our online bookshop, priced  £14.95 (US$29.00 €24.50), ISBN 978 1 86201 375 9