12 December 2008
By Alex Klaushofer
The British Council, which promotes English language and culture across the globe, has been criticised for a reform programme that is harming services, staff morale and income.
The Public Accounts Committee, in a report published on December 11, attributed the council's poor performance to reforms designed to bring the organisation more in line with UK national priorities.
The council, which works in 110 countries, is abandoning country-specific projects in favour of a regional approach. But PAC chair Edward Leigh warned that such changes could damage the good relationships it is seeking to promote. 'Standardised regional products might not be sufficiently tailored to circumstances in individual countries, bringing the risk of the council jeopardising its local contacts,' he said.
'For example, the council's teaching of English is a vital way of transmitting our language and culture across the world. However, the council's courses, premium-priced and mainly in capital cities, are not the best way of reaching poorer, rural people.'
PFdec2008
