This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Language opportunities for new arrivals
25/07/2005
Community groups, academics and members of the public
will today have the chance to contribute to a strategy for
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) in
Scotland.
The strategy will ensure access to high quality English
teaching to equip migrant workers and asylum seekers with
the language skills needed to integrate into local
communities and to Scottish society at large.
Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen said:
"Scotland is a country with a long history both of
attracting migrants and supporting language skills and it
is a tradition of which we are rightly proud.
"The need for a strategy to equip new arrivals with
quality English language teaching has increased
dramatically in recent years.
"There has been a number of migrant workers from new EU
accession states coming here as well as increasing numbers
of asylum seekers and refugees. In order to integrate into
Scottish society, all should be given the chance to develop
their language skills.
"Today marks a major step forward in the development of
this strategy and I would invite all those with an interest
in this area to submit their contributions.
"Access to English language skills is central to giving
people a democratic voice and supporting them to contribute
to society."
Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm added:
"The development of a national strategy for ESOL
provision in Scotland is most welcome. English language
training is an important part of helping people to
integrate into new communities and the ability to speak
English is an important tool that can be used to access
important public services.
"It also makes social interaction with local people
easier and helps to break down any barriers."
Those wishing to participate in the consultation can do
so online at
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/esolconsultation.
Alternatively, they can write in with comments to: Tom
Craig, Further and Adult Education Division, Scottish
Executive, Enterprise, Transport & Lifelong Learning
Department, 2nd Floor, Europa Building, 450 Argyle Street,
Glasgow, G2 8LG.
The consultation will run between July and mid
October.
In addition, a number of consultation events are being
held across the country -Inverness, Dundee, Glasgow and
Edinburgh, all in late August.
The formulation of an ESOL strategy for Scotland was
recommended in the Scottish Refugee Integration Forum's
Action Plan, published in 2002, and was subsequently
endorsed by Scottish Ministers. Research was carried out by
a team at Abertay University and published in February
2005. It is intended that the ESOL strategy will be
launched in Spring 2006.