"Implement the experts' findings", that's Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg's message to a committee reviewing the education curriculum, insisting there should be no further delay in introducing Welsh-medium education for every child.
The group has been leading a campaign in favour of Welsh-medium education for alla as part of the response to the Census results which showed a drop in the number of Welsh speakers. The group has already warned that children of Wales cannot afford further dealy in implementing the government-commissioned report by Professor Sioned Davies. The campaigners have accused the Government of attempting to bury the report's recommendations which were published last September.
In the society's evidence to the committee led by Graham Donaldson which is reviewing the curriculum, the group argues:
"Every pupil should leave school able to communicate and undertake work in Welsh and in English, and in a third language which will vary from school to school depending on resources. The aim of ensuring that every pupil is trilingual is part of what is called the Barcelona Agreement..."
"The present system is an educational failure: a substantial proportion of pupils are denied the essential skill of the ability to communicate and do their work in Welsh and excluded from the economic and cultural possibilities as a result of a curriculum insultingly called "Second Language Welsh". This isn't acceptable in a modern bilingual country, as the Welsh language belongs to all in Wales."
"We're very disappointed the government refused to deal with this problem - highlighted by Professor Sioned Davies' report commissioned by the government itself - as part of stage 1 of the curriculum review, because improving literacy and communication skills should mean improving skills in both language for every pupil... So, we are calling for a continuum to be established where every school will move to delivering some of the curiculum trhough the medium of Welsh, and announce the intention to abolish the concept of 'Second Language Welsh'."
A few weeks ago, the First Minister made a policy commitment saying it's 'important that all pupils in Wales' including those in English-medium schools 'speak Welsh confidently'.
Ffred Ffransis, Cymdeithas yr Iaith's education spokeperson commented: "In light of Carwyn Jones' statement that the system must change, we've called on the Donaldson committee to consider how to implement the recommendations of Sioned Davies', who has expertise in the field, across the whole curriculum, not to reconsider the recommendations themselves. We call on the First Minister to send a message to Graham Donaldson to explain this, and amend their terms of reference to an extent."
The group has also called for changes to the curriculum so young people are prepared with the understanding and skills in order to contribute to the new democracy in Wales at a community and national level.