Dyfodol i’r Iaith have expressed their dissatisfaction with local authorities’ Welsh in Education Strategic Plans (WESPS), and are calling for 18 of the 22 WESPS to either be restructured or rejected as they are falling short of the requirements.

The organisation therefore welcomes the appointment of Aled Roberts to conduct an objective survey of all the WESPS as a positive step forward.

Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol’s Chair said:

“In addition to challenging the Schemes, we would call for a new format for the WESPS, one that prioritises the growth in the number of 5 year-olds in Welsh education, rather than 7 year-olds, as is currently the case.”

“We would wish to see longer term targets being set over 10 years as opposed to the current 3 years.”

“Finally, it is essential that these Schemes note how more Welsh- medium schools will be established, and what assistance is required from central government in order to achieve this.”

Dyfodol i’r Iaith is calling on the Welsh Government to insist that Wales’s examination standards body, Qualifications Wales, ensures that all subjects available to study in English in Wales’s schools are also available in Welsh.

Dyfodol i’r Iaith is surprised that Qualifications Wales, who are sponsored by the Welsh Government and who are answerable to the Welsh Assembly, have not ensured that Psychology is available through the medium of Welsh.

Eifion Lloyd Jones said:

“Consideration of the Welsh language is central to Qualifications Wales’s duties. They should, knowing that Wales’s main examinations body (WJEC) are eliminating Psychology as a subject, ensure that this subject is offered by another provider.”

“If this is not done urgently, then Psychology will join Economics as a subject which is offered in Wales through the medium of English only in Wales next year.”

Eifion Lloyd Jones added, “With Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol having appointed a number of new lecturers to teach these subjects over the past few years, it is utterly ridiculous that Qualifications Wales are now ensuring that there will be students to study them.”

“This is a damaging situation for the development of the Welsh language in secondary and higher education. We will be pressing on the Government to insist that Qualifications Wales treats the Welsh language at least as favourably as English, and we will also be appealing to the WJEC to reinstate the subjects they are about to cease to provide.”

Dyfodol i’r Iaith have reacted fiercely to the advice issued by the Planning Inspector on behalf of the Welsh Government to weaken a Welsh language clause within Gwynedd and Anglesey’s Local Development Plan.

Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol’s Chair said:

“This advice is irresponsible and damaging to the Welsh language, particularly in the context of the Welsh Language Strategy and its stated aim of strengthening Welsh as a community language.”

“While the Government has set an ambitious target of creating a million Welsh speakers by 2050 and wishes to see the language as a living medium in our communities, the Planning Director’s advice is outrageous. The terms for judging the language impact of new housing plans should not remain separate.”

“If the Welsh Government is serious about achieving their aims in relation to the language, then it also needs to acknowledge the key role of the planning system as it prepares its long term strategy which would allow the Welsh language to thrive.”

Dyfodol i’r Iaith calls upon the Prime Minister and the Minister responsible for the Welsh language to:

–        Overturn the Planning Inspector’s advice

–        Ensure that the Welsh language is an essential factor in all planning applications and Local Development Plans [as specified within the Planning Measure of 2015]

–        Establish a separate Planning Inspectorate for Wales as soon as possible,