Category Archives: Education

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.

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 AN URGENT INQUIRY INTO EDUCATION AUTHORITIES’ COMMITMENT TO DEVELOPING WELSH MEDIUM SCHOOLS

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Dyfodol i’r Iaith have called upon the Welsh Minister to conduct an urgent inquiry into the lack of commitment show by some local authorities to improve and develop Welsh schools within their counties. This call follows a reply received from the Education Secretary’s Office in response to Dyfodol’s enquiry regarding the allocation of 21st Century Schools funding for Welsh schools by local authority area.

According to the Education Secretary’s Office, 6 counties – Blaenau Gwent, Flint, Merthyr Tudful, Monmouth, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Wrexham, have all chosen to allocate 5% or less the funding to Welsh medium schools.

In total, these counties spent £286,750,000.00 – more than a quarter of a billion pounds – on investing in schools, but only £2,726,636 on Welsh schools. Rhondda Cynon Taf spent £159,291,853 on English schools and only £798,147 on Welsh schools.

Blaenau Gwent, Flint a Merthyr Tudful spent nothing on Welsh schools, but £103,450,000 on English schools.

Since the authorities themselves are responsible for allocating the priorities for this expenditure, it is highly significant that these 6 authorities spent little or none of the funding on Welsh schools.

Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol’s Chair said:

“These figures are a sorry reflection of the lack of commitment that exists in some areas towards the growth of the Welsh language. As an organisation we have from the start been critical of the Welsh Language Education Schemes; in terms of individual schemes and the political will to lead on their development.

With the Welsh Language Strategy aiming to create a million Welsh speakers by 2050, it is agreed that this aim cannot be achieved without a robust commitment to develop Welsh medium education. The current situation means that the whole work is under threat from the start.

We call on the Minister to get to grips with the situation at once, and conduct a full and detailed inquiry into these authorities’ failure to contribute to the Government’s strategic vision.

 

Further Information:

Throughout Wales £1,497,726,000 was spent on schools.

£441,405,602 (29.5%) was spent on Welsh schools

Figures for the six counties:

Blaenau Gwent                Expenditure: £20,500,000             On Welsh schools: £0 = 0%

Flint                                     Expenditure: £64,200,000  On Welsh schools: £0 = 0%

Merthyr Tudful                  Expenditure: £19,000,000  On Welsh schools: £0 = 0%

Monmouth                         Expenditure: £93,400,00   On Welsh schools:£1,000,000 = 1%

Rhondda Cynon Taf         Expenditure: £160,000,000  On Welsh schools: £708,147 = 0.5%

Wrexham                           Expenditure: £22,300,000 On Welsh schools: : £1,018,489 = 5%