Job Discussion Forums

Persuasion · Joined: 16 Sep 2009 Posts: 11 Location: East of Acton

The government is planning to amend visa regulations for long-stay, non-Europeans coming to the UK on student visas. It's been designed to tackle students abusing the student visa regulations who really come here to work and not study.

However, in effect, it could obliterate the UK EFL industry and the universities that open their doors to foreign students. Instead of targeting the sham schools it will drastically harm the hundreds, if not thousands, of reputable schools and honest students that follow the rules.

There are many sensible amendments that have been proposed but there are a number of worrying changes that have the potential to devastate the UK EFL industry. The following are the most draconian, short-sighted of the planned changes:

1. Barring students who are elementary or pre-intermediate (CEF level A2)
2. Introduce stricter controls on students coming from countries that have a 'history' of illegal immigration. (China)
3. Barring long-term students from part-time jobs.

A petition has been created on the Number 10 website, and every Tefler working in the UK should sign it. It's very simple and won't take more than two minutes to do so. The address is:

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/PBSReview

We EFL teachers need to mention this to anyone else who might be interested in saving their job, plus the aspirations of thousands of honest foreigners who come to the UK to study because of its educational reputation.

Please, sign the petition now!

Harvey · Joined: 12 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

good riddance to TEFL in the UK.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Do you imagine for one minute that they pay any attention to the thousands of petitions that are delivered ?

Harvey · Joined: 12 Dec 2009 Posts: 39

Well said Scot.

The sooner TEFL in UK goes bottoms up the better. Then you will be able t walk down Oxford Street without being acosted by touts flogging English lessons.

barabbas · Joined: 22 Aug 2009 Posts: 58

Yes, it would be marvellous if the UK TEFL industry were obliterated, and then might start again, hopefully not as dire as now.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

I agree with rule number one on educational grounds. The students would do far better to build upon their own language at home and come over at a higher level. The idea that being in England will help a beginner or elementary is a bit of a daft one in my opinion.

Dipso · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 194 Location: England