Momentum Builds For Universal Welsh Medium Education - Welsh Language Society Issues Manifesto

The Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg) have called on the Wesh Government to introduce educational reforms to ensure that Welsh Medium Education is available to all students. The Society have been campaigning for the rights of Welsh speakers since its formation in 1962 and since then have launched protests in support of Celtic tongue of Wales.  In 2011 the work of The Welsh Language Society pressured the National Assembly to adopt the Welsh Language Measure establishing the Welsh language as an official language of Wales and introducing the post of Welsh Language Commissioner. The current Language Commissioner, Meri Huws, has proven to be a tireless champion for the Welsh tongue and as a result the balance is tipping in favor of a vigorous restoration of the Celtic tongue to its rightful place throughout the private and public sectors in Wales.

In its latest move the Wesh Langauge Society have posted a manifesto to its web site (linked below) calling for the adoption of measures that are intended to meet three primary objectives: “ ...create a million Welsh speakers, stem out-migration and allowing people to use the language in every part of life…”

These aims will be brought to the fore in the next general election.  The Society vows to make a major impact on strengthening the Welsh tongue via the electoral process.  Jamie Bevan, Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, made the following statement:  "We believe that the next election is a crucial one for the language. We need ambition as a nation in order to see the language thrive over the decades to come: we as people and our politicians need to raise our sights. There is no doubt that the results of the 2011 Census highlight the crisis facing the Welsh language. But there is no need to, and no point in, losing hope, instead there needs to be determined action on clear policies and plans.  If our politicians are serious about reaching ambitious aims, brave decisions need taking on legislation, resources, harnessing public support and planning the way forward."

The Manifesto contains the following:

  • Introduce a 'Welsh-medium Education for All Bill' in order to establish a continuum of learning Welsh and a degree of Welsh-medium education for all
  • Set statutory target dates for the progressive introduction of Welsh-medium only primary education across Wales.  
  • Open more Welsh-speaking halls of residence for students   
  • Establish centres in every county to immerse newcomers (who have not previously been exposed to Welsh) in the language, operating on the same model as the system in Gwynedd
  • Extend the Coleg Cymraeg's field of responsibility to further education, and post-16 education in general
  • Introduce a Workforce Planning Bill that would establish clear targets and responsibilities to ensure an increased supply of Welsh speaking workers

 

Logo of the Welsh Language Society - Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg

http://cymdeithas.cymru/news

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