Ysgol Mynyddcerrig wins 1st round

Cadwn Ein Hysgolion.JPGCymdeithas yr Iaith have publicised the fact that Carmarthenshire's Director of Education, Vernon Morgan, has yielded to demands to extend the 'consultation period' over the future of Ysgol Mynyddcerrig in the face of a substantial campaign to secure the school's future. Originally, only 4 weeks had been given for all interested parties to send in their responses to the Council's Consultation Document.

These responses were to be presented to the Council's Executive Board on Monday morning (10/7), after which just a fortnight was to be given to process the responses and a final decision was to be rushed through on July 24th. It has now been conceded that this timetable was unjust, and the consultation period has been extended until August 11th with the Executive Board considering responses in September.Cymdeithas Chair in Carmarthenshire, Sioned Elin, whose own children attend nearby Ysgol Bancffosfelen which is also under threat, commented:"This decision will encourage parents and governors who are fighting so bravely for the future of their community and their children's education. The success of Ysgol Mynyddcerrig and the fighting spirit of the community was there for all to see on Friday evening when over 100 people packed into and around the school building to see all the school children in song and drama supporting Heather Jones in the folk concert 'Colli Iaith, Colli Cymdeithas' (Losing a Language, Losing a Community).""The next step will be the demonstration on the steps of County Hall Carmarthen on Wednesday Morning (9.30am) to demand that the full Council, rather than just the Executive Board, discusses any plan to close a school and undermine a Welsh-speaking community"Among those offering messages of support for Ysgol Mynyddcerrig at the demonstration on Wednesday will be Glenys Thomas (National Chair of Merched y Wawr), Brian Walters (F.U.W.) and representatives of a dozen other village schools in the county.All will be bringing a stone from their own communities so as to build on the steps of County Hall a small Mountain of Stones ( the meaning of Mynydd Cerrig ) as visible support for the school.