Citizenship Test May Boost Need for Classes

Citizenship test ‘may up class costs’

The introduction of the Australian citizenship test may increase migrants’ demand for taxpayer-funded English lessons, the immigration department says.

The new citizenship test, to be implemented later this year, will require migrants to possess a higher level of English language ability than in previous years.

At present, most migrants to Australia are eligible for a maximum of 510 hours of English tuition to help them settle into their new country.

Refugee and humanitarian entrants under 25 with low levels of schooling are eligible for up to 910 hours of English classes, while those over 25 can receive up to 610 hours.Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) first assistant secretary Kate Pope told a Senate estimates hearing that humanitarian entrants to Australia last year averaged 422 hours of English lessons, family migrants 366 hours and dependents of skilled migrants 377 hours.

Asked by Labor senator Annette Hurley if the citizenship test’s higher English requirement would prompt migrants to stay in their classes for longer, Ms Pope said: ‘That’s possible, senator.’

But she was confident the department could meet any increase in demand for English lessons.

‘It can be handled in the same way as any other increase in demand,’ Ms Pope told the hearing.

‘If people were to seek additional hours and they’re eligible clients, then the appropriation will expand to meet that requirement.’

Senator Hurley asked if the spike in demand for English lessons would increase the overall average hours of language classes migrants undertook.

‘If the overall expenditure increases and the number of clients stays steady but they access more hours, then you’d expect that average to go up,’ Ms Pope said.

The immigration department would alert the Finance Department if it overran its budget for the Adult Migrant English Program, she said.

Labor has criticised the program and believes it is failing some migrants, particularly African refugees with no existing written language skills.

The federal government budgeted $154 million for the English program in 2006-07.-Sydney Morning Herald