UK schools speak out against the rules of teaching the European language

UK schools are preparing to take a severe blow to their ability to teach European languages ​​thanks to new immigration rules after Brexit that increase the costs of employing the hundreds of young EU citizens who help with lessons every year.

Education leaders said requirements introduced in January that apply to all new appointments mean they must pay more and reject or stop applications from students of EU universities, undermining the long working practices of EU universities, and language assistants who help students with support. Oral and practice.

Axel Heitmiller, governor of Judith Kerr Primary School, a free bilingual German and English school in London, said he was unable to meet 30 applicants who had applied as German university assistants for the next academic year due to cost and uncertainties. The new system.

“The damage to teaching a foreign language in the school will be significant,” he said, noting that the lack of additional government funding to cover the additional costs would make it difficult to provide the same level of support and “increase the distance between individuals in publicly funded and funded schools.”

Until last December, EU citizens could work part-time in the UK without restrictions, but now language assistants have to apply for visas that require longer working hours for a higher salary, or use a private route that requires supervision of a supported organization and is limited to six months or so. That the NHS charges them up to £ 650.

The British Council, a government-funded cultural organization, enjoys sponsorship and runs a long-term program of 500 European Foreign Language Assistants in schools every year. It is seeking new government support to cover the new visa fee and has required schools seeking applicants to submit applications by the end of April, two months earlier than usual due to extra bureaucracy.

Schools will need to register as charities to become sponsors, which they fear will take several months and impose additional costs. They can also join the British Council program, but they have to pay a higher hourly wage that is paid to caregivers than some currently offer.

Andrew Chadwick, the British Council’s principal advisor to the higher education movement, said his program means “it can theoretically work as usual”, in terms of numbers, but “the challenge is for schools to find the budget.” Visa processing fees, stipends, and NHS fees.

Matthias Krause, commercial director of the Deutsche School of Richmond, which typically employs 15-20 interns a year per semester, has warned that the new deals will have negative consequences. This is a big problem. If you don’t get the talent to come to the UK, socialize, and commute, you lose a lot of talent.

José Antonio Benedicto, head of the Spanish embassy’s education office, said schools “may find a problem” by hiring around 130 Spanish speaking aides each year due to visa costs and NHS costs, and some of them may need to meet their needs. Using language assistants. “It’s too much for people who don’t earn much every month.”

The pressure on foreign language assistants is adding to the post-Brexit barriers to cultural exchange between the UK and the EU, with no pathway available now for couples looking to work with families in the UK, which in turn reduces the demand for English language schools, Some have warned that they may need to shut down as a result.

“The new points-based immigration system is already attracting the best and brightest talents from all over the world,” the Ministry of Interior said, stressing that spouses and foreign language assistants can apply through the residency and mobility plans for young people in the European Union.

However, the only European countries covered by the Youth Mobility Program are Monaco and San Marino.