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2. PRINCIPLES
The strategy aspires to the following guiding principles
for adult
ESOL provision in Scotland:
INCLUSION
- Provision which supports migrant and refugee
settlement, and aids inclusion and full participation
in Scottish society and the economy
DIVERSITY
- Provision which recognises and values the cultures
of learners and the contribution that New Scots make to
society and the economy
QUALITY
- Provision which is high quality, easily accessible,
cost-effective and uses best practice in the teaching
and learning of languages
ACHIEVEMENT
- Provision which contributes to wider national
literacies targets and promotes attainment and personal
and social achievement
PROGRESSION
- Provision which supports and encourages routes into
further learning, employment and in local community
life
These principles are intended to complement the
existing vision for community learning and development (
CLD) and for lifelong learning, as set
out by the Scottish Executive, in
Working and learning together to build stronger
communities,Life Through Learning; Learning Through Life and
the
Adult Literacy and Numeracy In Scotlandreport.
2
Association of Scottish Colleges (
ASC)
Stakeholder Platform
ASC welcomes the opportunity for
consultation on the ADULT
ESOL STRATEGY FOR SCOTLAND and
particularly commends the formulation of this coherent
strategic approach to meet economic, social and
professional needs across Scotland.
ESOL providers in the further education,
community learning and development and voluntary sectors
have already demonstrated their commitment to the teaching
of
ESOL. However, the national
ESOL mapping exercise and scoping study
which was published in January 2005 has provided us with
robust figures on the demand for, the type, quantity and
quality of provision in Scotland, upon which we can now
base a co-ordinated national
ESOL strategy.
The new
SQAESOL framework, linked to the
SCQF, also means that
ESOL practitioners can share the same
quality assurance procedures and systems as their
colleagues in other curricular areas.
ASC endorses the proposals for the
establishment of a national
ESOL panel, a national
ESOL curriculum group, regional
ESOL forums and the development of a
"Best Practice in
ESOL" framework.
Expertise and professionalism are essential to ensure
continuous quality improvement, provision that is
up-to-date in content and is flexible and responsive to the
needs of students and employers.
ASC therefore welcomes the proposal for
an
ESOL professional development group, to
work on new qualifications and
CPD awards for all
ESOL practitioners, including volunteers
and support staff.
The strategy needs to ensure that the funding sources
are in place to meet the anticipated growth within
ESOL provision. The strategy must take
into account the fact that
FE colleges are autonomous bodies. It is
FE colleges' Boards of Management which
have responsibility for curriculum provision, in-service
training and
CPD, and resource disbursement within
their institutions.
The college sector looks forward to comprehensive
representation and active participation in the working
groups and panels and the consultation events. We recognise
the benefits of partnership arrangements and look forward
to collaborative working within the whole of the lifelong
learning sector.
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