ENDING the teaching of Welsh as a second language is one way to ensure fair access for children to Welsh and respond to the recent Census results, according to a policy paper presented to a Government review by Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg.

The group is calling for a series of measures to replace the present second language system including: teaching at least a third of the curriculum through the medium of Welsh in every school; changes to teacher training in order to ensure that every newly-qualified teacher can deliver their work in Welsh; and extending to the rest of the country Gwynedd’s schemes for late-comers to Welsh education.

The pressure group’s evidence to the Government’s review of Welsh second language education says: “... depriving anyone of the essential skill of the ability to communicate and discuss their work in Welsh is an educational failure. Nobody should be put under a disadvantage in the modern Wales, so we are calling for a timetable to be drawn up to ensure that everyone gains the skill of fluency in the Welsh language.

“The Government should announce the intention of abolishing ‘second language Welsh’ immediately and ensure instead … an immediate move to a system where every pupil receives a proportion of their education through the medium of Welsh, as well as studying the language as a subject, so they are able to work through the medium of the language.”

Robin Farrar, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg added: “We believe the Welsh language belongs to everyone in Wales - it’s part of everyone’s inheritance, whatever their background. It’s unfair that only a minority of young people have the opportunity of having Welsh medium education at the moment, depending on parental choice and a postcode lottery. We should aim for every pupil to be fluent and able to use the language in day-to-day life, so the term “second-language” is no longer appropriate. The system should not deny young people their right to live their lives through the medium of Welsh in this way.

“We welcome the Government’s decision to hold a review - it shows they recognise the failures of the present ‘second language Welsh’ system. It’s failing, undoubtedly, and the review is a chance to start a complete revolution of the education system in Wales. With brave and substantial changes, the education system can make a much bigger contribution to reversing the decline in the number of Welsh speakers shown by the recent Census."

Some of the policies in the paper will be presented to attendees of the Welsh Government’s Big Conference in Aberystwyth on July 4th as they form a part of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg’s ‘Maniffesto Byw’ (Living Manifesto).