Category Archives: Education

Five Aims Acheived

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Five important steps have been taken to promote the Welsh language this year, according to Dyfodol i’r Iaith, the Welsh language lobby group.  Dyfodol i’r Iaith has held discussions in many fields, and this is starting to bear fruit, according to the Chair, Heini Gruffudd.

The five successes are:

  • Establishing  a National Entity for Welsh for Adults
  • Plans to establish four Welsh Centres in four towns in Wales
  • The possibility of two Welsh medium radio channels
  • Care Council for Wales’ resource  on using Welsh in social care
  • Carmarthenshire’s education policy, as part of a far reaching language policy for the county.

Heini Gruffudd, Chair of Dyfodol i’r Iaith, said “We have had a positive response from politicians and by many committees and bodies during the year, and it’s good to see that many of our suggestions are now being accepted.”

“All of the five steps involve extending the use of spoken Welsh and creating fair condition for acquiring new Welsh speakers.”

“It is crucial that those responsible for putting the five steps into practice do so effectively and with conviction, so that good operating models are established.”

During the next month we will concentrate on ensuring that Welsh is given proper recognition by the Planning Bill which is under consideration by the Government.”

White Paper on Additional Learning Needs

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White Paper on Additional Learning Needs     In responding to the Welsh Government’s White Paper on Additional Learning Needs (ALN) Dyfodol i’r Iaith has expressed extreme disappointment that there is hardly any mention of the Welsh language in the document. Dyfodol  has offered many concrete suggestions as to how the Welsh language could be included in the ALN Bill in order to ensure that children and young people get the support that they need. Dyfodol’s suggestions include:

  • Including a clause on the face of the Bill ensuring the right for a child/young person to have support in Welsh
  • Including a clause in the Individual Development Plan (IDP) outlining in which language support should be provided
  • Including a clause in the Bill imposing a duty on local authorities, health boards and further education institutions to co-operate and share information in Welsh when that is required.
  • Including mandatory requirements in the Code of Practice regarding the Welsh Language including:
    • The right of children/young people and families to discuss the IDP in Welsh at any time in the process (preparing, review etc)
    • The right to to specialist support in Welsh (0-25) and ensuring linguistic progression and transition
    • The right to make and hear an appeal in Welsh (in local processes and Tribunal)
    • Provision regarding the Welsh language in relation to multi-agency working
    • Provision for workforce development to ensure an adequate supply of specialist staff who speak Welsh.
    • Independent advocacy in Welsh

Dyfodol i’r Iaith also recommends that the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol works with the Welsh Government to identfy where there is a shortage of skilled staff able to work in the ALN field in Welsh and to provide appropriate training courses in these fields. Estyn should also have the power to inspect how local authorities provide support in Welsh for children and young people with ALN and report on any failures to provide support. Ymateb Papur Gwyn Anghenion Dysgu Ychwanegol (Welsh only)

Call for trebling funding for Welsh for Adults

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The funding for Welsh for Adults should be trebled. This is the claim made by Dyfodol i’r Iaith in the wake of the announcement that the funding is being cut by 7%. Dyfodol i’r Iaith is disturbed that the cuts to Welsh for Adults, which amount to £2.3 million – is more than the extra money given to the Mentrau Iaith and to a Welsh language economy project in Dyffryn Teifi. The Welsh for Adults programme needs to be central in revitalising Welsh as a community language, according to Dyfodol i’r Iaith. Heini Gruffudd, Chair of Dyfodol i’r Iaith, said “It is clear that the Government has not considered the essential role that Welsh for Adults has in targeting new parents and in training a Welsh speaking workforce.  To make a difference, a similar amount of money to the Basque Country needs to be spent, where they spend around £40 million a year.” Heini Gruffudd added, “most of our courses are not intensive, and we have no expansive programme of releasing people from work to learn the language.” “In less Welsh-speaking areas, a programme is needed to target parents who wish to change the language of the home, and to do this, parents need a period from work.  There is also a need to establish a chain of Canolfannau Cymraeg  – Welsh speaking Centres – to be new social centres for the language.” “In the Welsh-peaking areas, Welsh for Adults has a key role in teaching the language to incomers.” “In a period of decline of Welsh-speaking communities, the time is ripe for an adventurous expansion of the Welsh for Adults provision.” Dyfodol i’r Iaith welcomes the establishment of a National Welsh for Adults Centre, and calls for finance of £30 million for the Centre, instead of the present £10 million.