AQW 1172/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 29/01/2020
Answered On Date: 17/02/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy what plans her Department has to standardise accreditation for English language courses for people arriving in Northern Ireland who do not speak English as a first language.

Answer:

English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL) courses are provided free by Further Education colleges across Northern Ireland to refugees, asylum seekers and those granted humanitarian protection.

The Department has recently commenced the development of an ESOL Policy for Northern Ireland. A key aim in developing this policy will be to consider how best to standardise ESOL provision across Northern Ireland in a number of different aspects, including accredited qualifications.