Story: Lisa Swift | Photo: Smaira Sadique
Adult learners have been fighting Council cuts in courses, after changes in funding. Over 300 learners stand to lose their classes from April.
Residents on basic skills courses, including Maths, English Literacy and ESOL, began writing letters to the Leader of the Council in January. By February a petition had been raised and learners attended Council meetings to voice their concerns.
The cuts were the result of adult learning funding being divided among Community Assembly Areas in the city. While courses faced the chop here, new courses in yoga, art, local history and IT were started in other areas of the city.
Following the action of learners, the Council has found £15,000 from an underspend. With a further contribution from the WEA, most classes will be able to run once a week, instead of twice a week as before. It is widely accepted that one class a week in basic skills does not allow learners to progress, only to maintain their skills. Further action is planned in April to demand the remaining £28,000 that will restore the classes for the summer term.
Learners meet the Council
Story:Amal Ahmed
On Wednesday 24th February people from our ESOL classes met the Council in the Town Hall and we asked questions about our classes, but no decision was made about the future.
The second time over eighty people from Burngreave went to the big Council meeting on Wednesday 3rd March, but again we felt let down and so went back to meet Councillor Sangar. We had about ten people from different places but we all had the same aim.
Three of us were learners and we explained our past problems and how we have improved now. We were expecting to get some good news, but we finished the meeting very disappointed.
The ESOL classes are everything to us. We don’t want to go to the university, we just want to improve our English. We just want to help ourselves and our children. We just want to get a job and to understand what is going on. Some parents can’t understand their children and we are losing touch with them when they grow up and become teenagers.
ESOL classes are everything to us. Bring back our rights and our schools will improve, because parents can help their children and the community.
Learner's comments
“ESOL has helped me to find voluntary work with the NHS as I have a background of working in a laboratory and now I have experience of participating in voluntary work advising people on how to prevent the spread of infection in the community. I have also worked as a voluntary assistant in the maternity service to enhance the service for Arabic speaking women.”
Arwa
“At first I didn't understand English and I wasn't able to speak. Every time I needed to use an interpreter but now I am able to solve my problems and even to help other people by interpreting. Though these classes are for our benefit, they also benefit the Council. If you count how much the Council pays for interpreters, English classes are cheaper and of more benefit.”
Lailuma
“This class gave me the determination to progress and develop my communication skills. This class gave the opportunity to work as a volunteer by helping other adults to learn English. If you cut classes and leave people ignorant, that will certainly lead to the big social issues in the country. That's why education is the best weapon to confront our daily life and the future.”
Djamila
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