Around 200 college students and workers lobbied parliament on Wednesday of last week. They were protesting against cuts of up to 24 percent to adult education funding.
Many were students learning English. Momtaz Badrun is studying English for Speakers of Other Languages (Esol) at Tower Hamlets College in east London.
She told Socialist Worker, “They’re pushing us to learn English and get a job.
“But these cuts will affect so many adults in education. We need to stop that.
“Learning English is very important. If we don’t, we can’t communicate with our children or the doctor.”
Rejaul Karim Mintu also studies at Tower Hamlets. “I need to learn to speak English to find a job,” he told Socialist Worker.
Student Arman added, “We need a better future.”
Jaishree Patel teaches Esol at Lambeth College in south London.
“These cuts are telling people that after the age of 19 they don’t count anymore,” she told Socialist Worker.
“But everyone should have a right to education. This is supposed to be the West but people are being treated as if they are in a third world country.
“Why do we have principals being paid £150,000 a year? Give it to our students.”
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