At Carwyn Jones AC, Prif Weinidog Cymru ac at Huw Lewis AC Gweinidog Addysg y Llywodraeth

GALWAD AM DDIWYGIO "CYMRAEG AIL IAITH" YN SYTH WRTH DRIN CAM UN YR ADOLYGIAD CWRICWLWM

Fis Awst diwethaf, buom yn galw arnoch i ddileu cysyniad "Cymraeg ail iaith" ac  yn hytrach i sicrhau fod pob disgybl yn cael ei alluogi trwy'r system addysg i fedru cyfathrebu a gweithio'n Gymraeg a Saesneg fel na bo neb tan anfantais.

Cefnogwyd yr argymhelliad hwn gan yr adroddiad a gomisiynwyd gan eich llywodraeth gan bwyllgor tan gadeiryddiaeth yr Athro Sioned Davies ("Un iaith i bawb" a gyhoeddwyd yn yr hydref.) Ychwanegodd yr Athro Davies mai mater brys oedd i'r llywodraeth weithredu ar y mater gan fod "Cymraeg Ail Iaith" yn methu pobl ifainc Cymru.

Mae'r Llywodraeth ar hyn o bryd yn y broses o adolygu'r cwricwlwm. Mae CAM 1 yr adolygiad - a wneir eleni - yn ymwneud a rhifedd, llythrennedd a chyfathrebu. Bydd CAM 2 - nad ystyrir am dros flwyddyn eto - yn ymwneud a materion ehangach. Yr unig ffordd y caiff argymhellion yr Athro Sioned Davies eu hystyried ar frys yw trwy gynnwys ysytyriaeth o "Cymraeg ail Iaith" yn ystod Cam 1.

Datganwn ein siom yn eich penderfyniad i adael ystyriaeth o'r maes pwysig hwn tan CAM 2 o'r adolygiad cwricwlwm. Galwn arnoch i ailystyried y penderfyniad hwn ac i drin y maes fel mater o flaenoriaeth tan CAM 1 fel bod datblygu "sgiliau llythrennedd a chyfathrebu" yn y ddwy iaith i holl ddisgyblion Cymru er mwyn sicrhau nad oes neb tan anfantais mewn gwlad ddwyieithog fodern.

Yn gywir

Mererid Hopwood, Nia Royles, Llyr Gruffydd AC, Ioan Talfryn, Christine James, Cefin Campbell, Toni Schiavone,  Robin McBryde, Jamie Bevan, Arfon Jones, Aled Davies, Simon Brooks, Meirion Prys Jones, Richard Snelson, Sian Thomas, Gayle Lister, Colin Nosworthy, Ffred Ffransis (Llefarydd Addysg, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg)

To Carwyn Jones AM, First Minister and Huw Lewis AM Education Minister

Last August, we called on you to abolish the concept of “Welsh as a second language” and instead ensure that every pupil is given the opportunity through the education system to communicate and work through the medium of both the Welsh and English languages, so that no-one is under a disadvantage.

This recommendation was supported by the report commissioned by your Government prepared by a committee chaired by Professor Sioned Davies (“One language for all” published in the Autumn).  Professor Davies added that it was a matter of urgency that the Government acted on this matter as “Welsh as a second language” lets down the young people of Wales.

At present the Government is in the process of reviewing the curriculum. Step 1 of the review – which will happen this year – deals with numeracy, literacy and communication.  Step 2 – which will not be considered for another year – deals with wider issues.  The only way that Professor Sioned Davies' recommendations will be considered swiftly is by including the consideration of “Welsh as a second language” during Step 1.

We are disappointed by your decision to leave consideration of this important area until Step 2 of the curriculum review. We call on you to reconsider this decision and to treat the area as a matter of priority in Step 1 so that “literacy and communication skills” are developed in both languages for all Wales’ pupils in order to ensure no-one is under a disadvantage in a modern bilingual country.

Yours,

Mererid Hopwood, Nia Royles, Llyr Gruffydd AC, Ioan Talfryn, Christine James, Cefin Campbell, Toni Schiavone,  Robin McBryde, Jamie Bevan, Arfon Jones, Aled Davies, Simon Brooks, Meirion Prys Jones, Richard Snelson, Sian Thomas, Gayle Lister, Colin Nosworthy, Ffred Ffransis (Education Spokesperson, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg)