Missed opportunity to give Welsh-medium education to all

Welsh Language and Education Bill: "Missed Opportunity to give all children Welsh-medium Education" 

After the Senedd today rejected a number of amendments to the Welsh Language and Education Bill, including an amendment that would have embedded a target in the Bill on how many children would receive Welsh-medium education by 2050, Cymdeithas yr Iaith has said that there is a risk that the Bill will do little more than maintain the status quo.

Toni Schiavione, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith's Education Group, said:

"The Government and the Senedd have missed a once-in-a-generation opportunity today, which may mean that the majority of children in Wales will continue to be deprived of Welsh-medium education for decades to come.

"It is acknowledged that Welsh-medium education is the only way to ensure that confident Welsh speakers are created through the education system. A recent opinion poll showed that 67% of people believe that schools should aim to educate all pupils to become confident Welsh speakers, so it's clear what the people of Wales want."

The Government has committed to consult on adding a target to the legislation on the percentage of children who will receive Welsh-medium education in the future. Cymdeithas yr Iaith has warned that this addition will not happen at all unless it happens during the current Senedd.

Toni Schiavone added:

"We are glad the government is going to hold a consultation on adding a target for Welsh-medium education into the Bill that will bind future governments, and we will be campaigning to ensure that this happens before the 2026 elections. But the truth is that not having such a target has been a clear weakness in the Bill since it was published in July. For the benefit of future generations, a target should have been included on the face of the bill today, and it's our own politicians in the Senedd that have prevented that from becoming a reality."

During the discussion, three members of Cymdeithas yr Iaith were present in the Senedd wearing t-shirts calling for a target to be included in the Bill and were visible to Members of the Senedd. They were removed from the public gallery.