Overcoming Barriers To Education

Studying in Britain can be difficult for asylum seekers and refugees. This leaflet lists some of the restrictions you may face, and suggest ideas on how to overcome them.

LANGUAGE

If you have not come to the UK with good English language skills, one of your main concerns will be the need to communicate. As well as needing to speak English to find your way in day-to-day life, you will need to have a good level of English for most courses (sometimes this will be assessed before you are able to start a course).

How to overcome the problems

There are many English language courses available. The main types of courses are listed below, together with an explanation of what they involve.

ESOL - English for Speakers of Other Languages: These are general English classes, available from absolute beginner to advanced level. Classes will involve the English you need to get by in certain situations, plus basic grammar. Many courses lead to a qualification, giving you a certificate if you are successful. Some colleges offer subjects such as electronics, law or computing together with ESOL. This means that you can study your subject at the same time as developing your English language skills.

EAP - English for Academic Purposes: These are aimed at people with at least a basic knowledge of English and who are hoping to study in a particular subject area. The language taught is focused on what you will need in order to understand, take part in and prepare assignments for educational courses of study delivered in English.

ESP - English for Specific Purposes: These classes cover the English needed in work areas, for example catering, engineering, medicine or law.

To find out more about ESOL classes, contact your local Further Education (FE) college, Adult Education provider or community group. You will be assessed to make sure that you enter at the right level and are studying in an appropriate group.

Overseas qualifications

Most asylum seekers and refugees have qualifications from their own countries. You may find that your qualifications are not acceptable, or are recognised at a lower level in the UK. You may have to re-train in a subject that you have been practising for many years in order to re-qualify, or for you to register with a professional body in the UK.

How to overcome the problems

The National Academic Recognition Information Centre (UKNARIC) is an independent body that gives UK equivalence to overseas qualifications. They cover academic, technical and some vocational qualifications, and can tell you about their equivalence in the UK. UKNARIC information is only offered as a guide and may not be accepted as proof by a college or an employer.

Some centres are able to carry out assessment and accreditation of "learning from life and work experience", which is known as Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL), or Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL). This involves building a file of evidence to demonstrate skills that can be assessed. This may be particularly useful if you do not have your certificates with you in the UK.

If you have trained or studied in an area that requires professional registration in the UK such as teaching, medicine or law, you will have to go through a process of requalification before you are able to practise again. This means that you will have to approach the regulating professional body and probably undertake additional training and practise in order to gain recognised status in the UK. Contact RETAS if you need help you with this process (details are on the back page of this leaflet).

Disability

Whatever your disability, using public services in the UK can be difficult. Many colleges and universities are in old buildings that have not been adapted for disabled people and cause problems in terms of access and mobility. There may also be problems with transport, college facilities and even the nature of the course or training you wish to undertake. Please note that most Asylum Seekers are not eligible for Disability Living Allowance, but may qualify for some services offered to people with disabilities (see ROAP leaflet no. 4).

How to overcome the problems

In 1995, the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) was introduced in Britain. It is now an offence for an organisation or individual to discriminate against those with a disability. Most education providers now have good support for disabled students. Most colleges now have a worker to support students with disabilities. This support can range from providing Dictaphones for those who are unable to take notes, to arranging mobility support and additional equipment or dealing with personal problems.

Most FE colleges have a department for students who have learning disabilities. Courses offered will include life skills, personal hygiene, computing, cooking and basic literacy and numeracy. The courses are generally attached to a nationally recognised, basic level qualification and many students go on to other courses.

Similarly, those experiencing mental health problems can access a wide range of courses geared towards their needs.

Geographical isolation

Most towns throughout the UK have good independent advice centres, though not all are experienced at giving advice to asylum seekers and refugees. If you are living outside the main cities, you may find yourself with access to either poor or no guidance with regards to your further study. Often advice and education providers are unable to provide suitable help and support, or unknowingly give wrong information and advice concerning refugees' entitlements and progression.

How to overcome the problems

If you do not live near or cannot get to a suitable college, it is possible to study at home using “distance-learning” or “open learning courses”, although you will still have to attend occasional lectures and tutorials. The Open University run a wide range of programmes up to post graduate level for those wishing to study from home. There are also many professional organisations offering training in areas such as accountancy and librarianship in this way. Many FE colleges will also be able to offer some of their more academic courses through distance learning. You need to approach individual institutions to determine the availability of these courses.

If you have access to the Internet, there is also a large amount of on-line training available. A lot of this is offered through LearnDirect, with the majority of the training being based around Information Technology. Their on-line courses now include ESOL through their learning centres. Some universities are developing technology based, on-line courses which require little or no direct contact with tutors. All assignments are posted on the web site and tutorials and seminars also take place on-line.

Beware: many distance-learning providers are private companies and charge very high fees with no concessions and often no recognisable qualification at the end. Take advice before commencing on any distance learning or on-line course.

Refugee women

As a woman refugee, especially one with children, you may find it difficult to make the most of educational opportunities. You may feel that education is not the most important issue that need addressing, or family or social demands may make it more difficult to take a course of study.

How to overcome the problems

Many colleges have childcare provision available for their students, and some Local Authorities may provide cheap childcare. These services are usually available for children over the age of three, but you should check this with the providers. Note that childcare facilities are normally in great demand and places need to be reserved well in advance.

It may be possible to raise money to pay for private childcare facilities (e.g. childminders) from local trusts and charities, although such funds are likely to be limited.

Through programmes such as New Deal for Lone Parents, there is now the opportunity to access financial assistance for childcare without affecting your benefit. Contact your local Employment Service for more details.

There are also a number of courses designed specifically for women, which are sensitive to both the educational and personal needs of students. These will often incorporate your children into your learning experience and/or provide childcare whilst you are studying. You can often access training in community organisations if it is difficult for you to travel to or use larger institutions.

Please note that the information in this leaflet is not intended to be a full explanation of the law or of your rights: for detailed advice about your own circumstances, you should contact a specialist adviser or solicitor.

For further information, contact one of the ROAP partnership organisations:

For advice on the asylum application process contact:

Asylum Aid

28 Commercial Street

London E1 6LS

Tel. 020 7377 5123

Fax. 020 7247 7789

For advice on welfare benefits and asylum support contact:

Central London Advice Service (CLAS)

Derry House

Penfold Street

London NW8 8HJ

Tel. 020 7402 6750 ext. 23

Fax. 020 7224 8264

For advice on adult education, training and employment contact:

Refugee Education & Training Advisory Service (RETAS)

14 Dufferin Street

London EC1Y 8PD

Tel. 020 7426 5837/5817

Fax. 020 7251 1314

Printed: March 2003