TUC backs refugee education initiative

Last month the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics (CARA) charity launched a new handbook - with support from the TUC - which advises refugees how to seek and apply for funding for courses in the UK.

CARA says that a refugee doctor can be given the additional training to practise in the UK for as little as £1,000 - compared to the £250,000 it takes to train a doctor from scratch.

The TUC pointed out: "Often all skilled refugees or asylum seekers need is a little bit of further education or guidance to adapt their qualifications and skills to meet British requirements."

But current rules mean asylum seekers cannot work until a decision has been made on their status. Many are forced to live on benefits or take low-paid work.

CARA says the economy could be boosted to the tune of £100 million if the 5,000 academics seeking refuge in Britain were able to work.

The initiative is also backed by the Commission for Racial Equality, whose chair Trevor Phillips said: "CARA's handbook will help refugees negotiate the labyrinth of higher education and will enable people to take up the many opportunities higher education affords."

For copies of the handbook e-mail: [email protected]

* A new website for asylum seekers with advice on education, employment, volunteering and getting recognition for qualifications, has been launched by the Refugee Assessment and Guidance Unit at London Metropolitan University.

www.londonmet.ac.uk/ragu/asset