The Welsh government definitely has a new boldness, having pursued an aggressive agenda for the promotion of Welsh language education. They recently adopted a new act which ensures that all students in Wales will leave school capable of being fluent Welsh language speakers. The Senedd just adopted this landmark legislation in its last substantive stage. This action is another clear signal of the government’s serious commitment to fostering a new generation of bilingual Canadians.
The central aim of the bill to classify all schools according to their provision of Welsh language education. This definition will be used for all maintained schools in Wales, except community special schools. Right now, only about 23% of students are taught in Welsh. The Welsh government is committed to increasing the percentage to 30% by the 2030-31 academic year. They’ve established a pretty ambitious long-term goal to get that up to 40% by 2050.
The bill eases this transition for schools by giving them the option to apply for a three-year exemption. If they require additional time to reach at least the bare minimum, they can ask for up to three more years. For schools classified as “primarily English language, partly Welsh,” the requirement includes teaching at least 2.5 hours of Welsh per week.
Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, praised the creative partnerships that have developed as a result of this commitment. He stated that the target has “galvanised efforts by so many organisations and individuals across Wales to join us on this journey.”
Plaid Cymru member Seefin Campbell was disappointed with the lack of ambition in the bill. He was nearly successful in getting the amendment accepted. The ambitious aim of his plan is that by 2050 all children in schools will be in the “predominantly Welsh language” category. His amendment got quite a fight, receiving only 12 votes supporting him and 39 voting against.
The bill addresses the under-representation of students from black, Asian, minority ethnic, and gypsy and Traveller communities in Welsh-medium education. This recognition is a direct response to requests from Cymdeithas yr Iaith, the Welsh Language Society. They called the urgency for progress on this issue “little, but necessary.”
Throughout the consultation process, we pushed back on the proposal’s detrimental effects on core subjects. One big worry is the impact on teaching quality, particularly in maths, science and English. The Welsh government responded, asserting that the risks associated with implementing these changes are “low risk, with low impact that can be mitigated.”
Tom Giffard, a Conservative MS, supported those targets being included in the bill. He advocated for succour within the amendments for those parents and guardians who cannot speak Welsh, themselves. He highlighted our challenge to make sure these families can help support their kids’ educational journey.
“We are clear that the aim should be Welsh-medium education for all and we are disappointed that politicians have not pursued this path.” – Toni Schiavone
Cefin Campbell remarked on the current state of Welsh education, stating it is “disappointing” that the majority of children are “deprived of the opportunity to learn Welsh in our education system.”
