Bangladesh in the United Kingdom

The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills have withdrawn further funding for ESOL classes (Engish for Speakers of Other Languages) which was until now provided for free in communities across the country!

Thousands of Students and teachers have organised a march for 16 June 2011 at 12pm from Lambeth College in Brixton and finishing at Kennington Park for the 2pm rally organised by Action for ESOL, a coalition of teachers and students, demanding that Further Education Minister John Hayes rethinks the proposed cuts.

Students claiming ‘inactive’ benefits such as income support, disability and housing allowances will have to pay up to £1,200 a year for their English classes, the campaigners point out, along with refugees and asylum seekers.

The campaign has already presented a 20,000-name petition to David Cameron, with another 10,000 signatures added since.

What doesn’t make any sense is that the new coalition government has stated that anyone wishing to stay in this country or applying for a visa must demonstrate that they can speak English! If this is the case Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg, why have you allowed for these cuts to be made and what do you propose next?…………….