UK Home Office Unveils New Details on SELT Overhaul
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The UK government is set to introduce a major overhaul of Secure English Language Tests (SELTs) with the launch of the Home Office Language Test (HOELT), according to new details revealed by The PIE News. The new testing model aims to consolidate the current system, which features multiple approved suppliers, into a single Home Office-branded test to be used globally.
The tender for the £1.13 billion deal, which covers both the development of the HOELT and its global administration, will conclude with the selection of a supplier early next year. The UK Home Office plans to implement the new model by 2026.
Despite the significant shift, the Home Office confirmed that the HOELT will not alter existing immigration policies but will support them. Universities will retain the autonomy to choose which English language tests they accept for student visas, with the HOELT primarily designed for work visas.
Universities UK International (UUKi) acknowledged the HOELT’s role in supporting current policy but expressed concerns about the test’s global accessibility, recognition, and the risks associated with having a sole supplier. UUKi is working closely with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to address these issues and ensure that universities’ perspectives are considered in the HOELT proposal.
The international education sector has reacted strongly to the proposed changes, with some stakeholders describing the move as a “seismic shift” in language testing. Concerns have been raised about potential monopolies and the implications for competition in the sector, which currently includes providers like Pearson, IELTS SELT Consortium, LanguageCert, and Trinity College London.
As the UK prepares for this substantial change, the sector remains watchful of the upcoming developments in the language testing landscape.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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