UK to fund English-language tuition for migrant spouses

UK prime ministerDavid Cameronhas announced plans to encourage migrants to learn English, which he hopes will address segregation affectingMuslim women.

Under the plans,£20 millionwill be allocated to English tuition for migrants. People coming to the UK on aspousal visawill be expected to become more fluent in English over time, and will betestedafter two and a half years in the country.

Cameron has indicated that migrants may be forced toleave the UKif their English does not improve sufficiently.

The government claims that190,000 Muslim womenliving in the UK (or22%) speak“little or no” English. The prime minister argues this encouragesgender segregationandsocial isolation, and contributes an environment in whichfemale genital mutilation,forced marriage, andterrorist recruitmentare permitted to exist.

Last year, the UK governmentcut £26 million of funding对于英语tuition, affecting an estimated 16,000 learners.

Ingo Isphordinghas written for IZA World of Labor about thelanguage proficiency of immigrants. He writes that: “Immigrants who fail to achieve adequate proficiency in the host country language generally fail to achieveeconomic and social integration[…] Insights into differences in immigrant characteristics offer opportunities forpublic policy interventionto improve integration through better language acquisition. Promising policy options includepoint-based immigration selection rules,language classes, andcitizenship incentives.”

Gilles Grenierhas also written for us about theeconomic value of language skills. He argues that: “Economic studies have shown that fluency in a dominant language is important toeconomic successand increaseseconomic efficiency. However, maintaininglinguistic diversityalso has value since language is also an expression of people’s culture.”

Related articles:
What drives the language proficiency of immigrants?byIngo E. Isphording
The value of language skillsbyGilles Grenier