Category Archives: Education

COOPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL AUTHORIES IS ESSENTIAL TO ATTAIN THE LANGUAGE STRATEGY TARGETS

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Dyfodol i’r Iaith welcomes the Government’s aim of  increasing Welsh medium education.  Ensuring that 40% of Wales’ pupils are in Welsh medium education by 2050 will be a huge gain for the language and the people of Wales, says the lobby group.

Dyfodol i’r Iaith warns, however, that the Government needs to deal successfully with local authorities.  Heini Gruffudd, chair of Dyfodol i’r Iaith, said

“The Government has in the past set targets for the growth of Welsh medium education, but has failed to achieve these.  This is because the Government had failed to win over local authorities, especially in south and east Wales.  The Government now needs to show how it will ensure that local authorities get the support and finance to attain these ambitious targets.

“Some authorities, such as Gwynedd and others in west Wales have made Welsh medium education a priority.  The Government needs to convince local authorties in all parts of Wales that Welsh medium education should be a priority for the next thirty years.  Unless this occurs, the strategy will fail.”

DYFODOL’S MEETING WITH THE EDUCATION SECRETARY AND WELSH LANGUAGE MINISTER

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At this key point in the development of the Welsh Language Strategy, and of pressing need for a meaningful process to ensure that the aim of creating a million Welsh speakers is reached, Dyfodol was grateful of the recent opportunity to meet with Kirsty Williams and Alun Davies.

If we are to realise this vision, then clearly, education, a significant growth in Welsh-medium education, and ensuring a suitably-qualified workforce will be essential. This was our main message for the politicians and civil servants. In addition to this, we also stressed the importance of structures and policies which encourage a positive response to the language at all levels; from the Welsh Government to local authorities, to sharing the message of the benefits of Welsh education amongst parents and soon-to-be parents. This was set firmly within the context of ensuring that that the planned million speakers be given opportunities to learn Welsh to a high standard and be given opportunities to use it across a wide range of situations and experiences.

We received a positive hearing and were encouraged by the Government’s confirmation of the need to raise language and cultural awareness and to promote the Welsh language beyond the classroom.

It was also confirmed that Aled Roberts’s report on Welsh Language in Education Strategic Schemes (i.e. the local authorities’ schemes) is expected within the next few weeks. We repeated our opinion that these schemes need to be overhauled. One important improvement would be to significantly extend the current three year cycle to facilitate the long term planning of Welsh language education. We would also call for language monitoring to start from when the child enters the education system, rather than at 7 years old, as is the current requirement.

We will await the White Paper, which is due to be published this summer for more information on the Government’s plans and for further details regarding the establishment of an Agency to promote the language.

 

MEETING WITH THE CHAIR OF THE CROSS PARTY GROUP ON THE WELSH LANGUAGE

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We had an encouraging and constructive meeting this week with Jeremy Miles, Chair of the Cross Party Group on the Welsh Language.

The theme of the discussion was Welsh education – a key element in ensuring the success of the Welsh Language Strategy, and an urgent priority in planning towards its progress. This was our main message, along with pressing for an improvement in the quality and commitment of local education authorities’ Strategic Welsh Language Schemes, and ensuring that they contribute meaningfully to the aim of creating a million Welsh speakers. It was emphasised that concentrating on creating Welsh schools, and moving towards changing the medium of schools to Welsh would yield the best results in terms of creating Welsh speakers for the future.

Consistent with Dyfodol’s core vision, it was also emphasised that any planning has to take place within the context of widespread promotion the Welsh language. In relation to education, this context would include raising awareness of the advantages of the Welsh language and the importance of ensuring a sufficient workforce of qualified and committed teachers.

We now look forward to discussing the needs in terms of education later this month with the Education Secretary and the Welsh Language Minister.