Asylum seekers need free English classes, urges campaign Wednesday, December 10, 2008 - 16:13

Asylum seekers should be entitled to free English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and not have to wait until their claims for asylum have been approved. This is the principal aim of A Right to a Voice - a campaign being launched in London on 10 December 2008, on the 60th Anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, by NIACE, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education.

With the support of many other voluntary organisations, including the Refugee Council, A Right to a Voice will:

• reveal the impact of ESOL policy changes upon asylum seekers as a vulnerable group;
• highlight the injustice and inefficiency of the current policy with regard to access to ESOL provision; and
• seek to change government policy in England regarding access to ESOL.

Alan Tuckett, Director of NIACE, said:

“The provision of English language courses to asylum seekers is both humane and just. Being able to speak the language in the country of exile is essential to every asylum seeker. Research shows that immediate access to English allows asylum seekers to interact with their new local neighbourhoods and it contributes to community cohesion. It enables the parent to speak to her child’s teacher, to explain herself to a doctor and to begin to function independently in society without recourse to expensive translation or interpreting resources.” He ended, “Newly arrived asylum seekers who begin to learn the language from day one are more likely to learn quickly and efficiently and therefore be able to work and contribute to the economy when permitted to do so.”

Mongay fled Congo in 2001 and arrived in the UK not knowing a word of English. Today, he teaches maths and electronics at a London college. He attributes his success to the fact that he started learning English the day after he arrived in England. He said:

“If I had to wait six months to learn English, like people have to now, I probably wouldn’t have gone to University and become a teacher. Like so many others I would have felt excluded and my motivation and ability to learn would have dropped. Learning English has helped me to make many friends here and it has helped me to get to where I am today.”

Kaziwa from Kurdistan experienced first-hand the effects of not knowing English and through her volunteer work she sees people struggle every day. She said:

“Having to wait six months to learn English is devastating for people. They get depressed because they feel isolated and some of them think they would be better off dead. They don’t have access to important information and one man recently missed his chance to gain refugee status. He couldn’t read the letter so he didn’t know where to go or at what time and there was no one to help him read it.”

Kaiwan, from central Iraq, was just 16 years old when he arrived in England in 2001, having been persecuted and imprisoned in his own country. Unable to speak a single word of English was isolating for Kaiwan. He said:

“I was lost, I couldn’t even buy a loaf of bread.” But Kaiwan’s determination in learning English has paid off. He has had several jobs and now works as a lorry driver. He said: “Learning makes a big difference in your life. Without English, I’d be lost.”

Hasan and his wife Abrar sought asylum in the UK one year ago. They both have degrees from Iraqi Universities, but Abrar did not speak English when she arrived. She was told she had to wait six months before she could learn the language. By the time Abrar became eligible for ESOL lessons, she had given birth and found it hard to attend college and be a mother at the same time. Since her arrival she has only had three months’ worth of two hour lessons a week, through Manchester’s Home Tuition Project. Hasan, who already knew English when he arrived here, said:

“My wife feels isolated and has no sense of freedom. She’s not confident enough to go out alone or even answer the phone. I have to accompany her to the market and shops - not knowing the language is her greatest barrier.”

Donna Covey, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council, said:

“Being able to learn English quickly helps both refugees and the communities in which they live. Coming to a strange land, especially in traumatic circumstances, is isolating and terrifying. Aside from the practical benefits, being able to speak the language is the first and best way to overcome this loneliness, and to become part of a community, who in turn will be better able to understand refugees’ unique situation and see beyond their differences.”

A Right to a Voice will also offer practical support and build on the excellent voluntary work which is already going on all over the country. NIACE will set up small groups to support asylum seekers in their first six months in the country. The groups, initially in London, will meet regularly and be run by volunteers. On offer will be basic ‘first aid English’, an introduction to the local area and information on key contacts; especially other refugee and asylum seeker community organisations.