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THE WELSH LANGUAGE; BEYOND THE SCHOOL GATES

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Thank you to everyone who came along to our public meeting at Arad Goch in Aberystwyth recently. We hope that you enjoyed the session, and that it provided food for thought.

Siôn Aled Owen gave a fascinating presentation on the theme of; The Welsh Language;Beyond the School Gates. This presentation was based upon his important research into the use of Welsh by pupils in Welsh medium education outside the classroom.

Although the children and young people’s attitude towards the language was overwhelmingly positive, Dr Owen said that urgent action needs to be taken to ensure that this goodwill becomes concrete reality. More has to be done in order to create opportunities to speak Welsh informally and to encourage confidence in its day to day usage. His research shows that enforcement is not the answer, but rather, that behavioural patterns need to be changed, while recognising the key roles played by the family (including the extended family) and the media.

We were pleased to hear that this research confirms one of Dyfodol’s key messages; that language policy has to concentrate on creating opportunities to use the language as a natural choice, and to promote confidence and pride in its everyday use. Siôn Aled Owen’s research shows that the foundation, in terms of goodwill is firmly in place, and that Government now has to build upon this.

DYFODOL CALLS FOR A RESTRUCTURING OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES’ WELSH LANGUAGE EDUCATION SCHEMES

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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 CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF WELSH MEDIUM GCSE SUBJECTS

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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.”