Here we go again in Ceredigion

Cymdeithas yr Iaith has accused Ceredigion education officials of preparing for a public consultation exercise on the future of Welsh village schools, that is no more than a tick-box exercise

This time, the future of schools in the Aeron Valley area will be under discussion in the Learning Communities Scrutiny Committee on Monday.

Ffred Ffransis of Cymdeithas yr Iaith said:

"The officers are going through the motions of considering the 4 options in the report on the Review of Education provision in the Aberaeron District. It is clear that the first 2 options – either to keep things as they are or to be willing to close only one school - are not under serious consideration; and it is clear that they have no funds to implement the 4th option, a large new building. So why can't they be honest and say they are in favour of their "third option" – which is to centralise primary education in Dyffryn Aeron at the Felinfach Professional education Centre, depriving four village communities of their schools?

"The council spent money on their own new expensive office headquarters in Aberystwyth, and the majority of jobs have moved there: now Welsh rural communities need to pay the price."

Cymdeithas also said that the figures in their report do not support theircase:

  • According to the Council's own estimates, the numbers of children will rise over the coming years.

  • The newest school, Ysgol Bro Siôn Cwilt has the highest percentage of empty places, after Cilcennin School

  • Regarding the condition of school buildings, 3 of the 4 schools under threat are in the highest category but one

GIVE ASSURANCE TO SCHOOLS

Cen Llwyd, vice chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith added:

"Instead of threatening 4 schools we hope that the Scrutiny Committee will give assurance about their future, and create an Aeron Valley Federation, by combining the Secondary School with the primary schools in the town and the four rural schools in the valley. The site in Felinfach could be developed and become a cultural centre for all schools in Ceredigion, counteracting recent trends to make the curriculum more narrow. We hope that the Committee will consider innovative schemes like this, instead of following the same predictable negative route again."