EDUCATION FUNDING FOR ETHNIC MINORITIES

That this House is greatly concerned by the effective cut by 15 per cent. of eligible education expenditure announced for 1992-93 by the Home Office for section 11 funding payments to local authorities; notes that these grants account for 75 per cent. of salary costs of staff engaged in special provision for ethnic minorities; believes that teachers paid from these funds provide an invaluable service by teaching English as a second language, giving bilingual support, making the curriculum accessible to ethnic minority pupils, giving pastoral support and being involved in home school liaison; is alarmed by the Home Office guidance which outlines a scaling down procedure for projects, subject to a tapering of the rate of grant, which will inevitably lead to a proportionate loss of section 11 posts within local education authorities; and urges the Government to recognise the continuing value of the work undertaken supporting ethnic minority pupils alongside their class teachers, and restore expenditure levels prior to its formal financial approval of funding levels in February 1992 to provide security of employment to section 11 teachers.