Dyfodol i’r Iaith is appalled that a postgraduate course to train teachers is coming to an end at Aberystwyth University.

Dylan Bryn Roberts, Chief Executive of Dyfodol i’r Iaith, said: “ending the teacher training course will undoubtedly negatively affect the number of students who wish to become teachers who can teach through the medium of Welsh. There is already a crisis of teacher shortages, and this announcement will surely make the situation increasingly worse.

“Wales is already losing more than half of its students to English Universities and beyond.  This is a further blow that will make it increasingly difficult to develop Welsh language education.

“It is clear to us that Aberystwyth University’s inability to run the course stems from the Welsh Government’s reluctance to prioritise education in Wales, while spending over half a billion pounds on funding Welsh students at Universities beyond Wales. Under Government policy, our students are encouraged to leave their country rather than take advantage of Welsh Universities. With more choosing to leave, our organisations will continue to see further decline.”

“We have written to Lynne Neagle, Education Secretary and Jeremy Miles, Welsh Language Secretary asking them to review the existing funding policy and start giving Welsh students the benefits of studying in their own country, as is the case in Scotland and Northern Ireland. That is also the most effective way to support our Universities which are facing unprecedented and long-term challenges unless we see a U-turn by our Government.

“As it stands, we will be hearing about many more cuts in academic provision and jobs. On the other hand, there is no cap on Welsh Government spending on higher education outside Wales which has risen by 60% over the last 5 years. Is this “a Wales full of hope, ambition and unity” that Vaughan Gething mentioned in his speech as the new First Minister of Wales recently?

(Full release here:)

Press Release: A further blow to the development of Welsh language education