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Leader Live
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Wales: 'Truly historic' education bill passed in the Senedd
Senedd members voted 50-0 in favour of the Welsh language education bill, which aims to ensure all pupils become confident Welsh speakers by the end of compulsory school. Mark Drakeford said the bill will open doors for pupils, offer job opportunities, provide access to the rich culture of the language and allow people to use Welsh in their everyday lives. The former first minister, who is now responsible for the language, told the Senedd the bill would open a new chapter in the history of Welsh education. Under the bill, three school categories will be created – primarily Welsh; dual language; and primarily English, partly Welsh – with targets for each for a minimum of Welsh education. The bill would also put the target of reaching at least a million Welsh speakers on a legal footing and establish the National Welsh Language Learning Institute. Ministers' Cymraeg 2050 strategy also aims to double daily use of the language by 2050. Prof Drakeford said: 'The institute will be the focal point for Welsh learning and it will help in the process of planning to develop the education workforce. It will promote innovation and continuous improvement… and will help to raise standards in learning Welsh.' Cautioning change will not happen overnight, the finance secretary stressed the importance of embedding the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Tom Giffard, for the Conservatives, said his party would support the bill in the final vote because 'it's extremely important we achieve that target of a million Welsh speakers'. Mr Giffard, a former teaching assistant at a Welsh-language primary school, appeared to have a pop at Reform UK – the right-wing populist party headed by Nigel Farage. 'This is at risk in future,' he said. 'There are some parties currently outside this Senedd, or perhaps within it, who want to see us reverse that development that we see, and that is very concerning for me and will be concerning in future years.' Cefin Campbell – an architect of the bill, which was part of Plaid Cymru's since-collapsed cooperation agreement with ministers – was heartened to see cross-party support. Plaid Cymru's shadow education secretary described the bill as 'truly historic' and an important milestone on the journey to a million Welsh speakers and beyond. Mr Campbell told the Senedd: 'Time will tell if this bill succeeds in its ambition to secure one million Welsh speakers by 2050. 'At the moment, you have to say that it looks like a mountain to climb, with the summit feeling very far away. But, one of the purposes of mountains is to climb them, so why not put our language boots on and go for it.' TOP STORIES In closing, he invoked the words of Gwynfor Evans, Plaid Cymru's former president and first MP, who said: 'From Anglesey to Monmouth, speakers of Welsh are again a possibility.' Responding during the debate on May 13, Prof Drakeford thanked his Tory and Plaid Cymru counterparts for their support despite not agreeing with every word in the bill. He told Senedd members: 'Everything I've heard this afternoon tells me that we have succeeded in bringing people together.' The Labour politician, who is standing down next May, added: 'When we can come together in this way, we can do important things, not just in Wales today but in the future Wales. 'In my view, we have as a Senedd succeeded in creating an important bill – a far-reaching bill that will enable all children to become confident Welsh speakers. And, from what I've heard, it appears we will pass the bill today unanimously and that is a powerful signal.' After completing its passage through the Senedd, the bill should receive royal assent in the months ahead with no legal challenge expected from the UK Government.
Wales Online
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
Senedd passes 'truly historic' bill to raise standards in learning Welsh
Senedd passes 'truly historic' bill to raise standards in learning Welsh The Welsh language education bill aims to ensure all pupils become confident Welsh speakers by the end of compulsory school Cabinet Minister Mark Drakeford welcomed the Welsh language education bill (Image: Rob Browne/WalesOnline ) A bill has been passed by the Senedd which it is said will help raise standards in learning Welsh. Senedd members voted unanimously to pass the Welsh language education bill, which aims to ensure all pupils become confident Welsh speakers by the end of compulsory school. Welsh language minister Mark Drakeford said the bill will open doors for pupils, offer job opportunities, provide access to the rich culture of the language and allow people to use Welsh in their everyday lives. He said it would open a new chapter in the history of Welsh education. Under the bill, three school categories will be created – primarily Welsh; dual language; and primarily English, partly Welsh – with targets for each for a minimum of Welsh education. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here The bill would also put the target of reaching at least a million Welsh speakers on a legal footing and establish the National Welsh Language Learning Institute. Ministers' Cymraeg 2050 strategy also aims to double daily use of the language by 2050. Mr Drakeford said: "The institute will be the focal point for Welsh learning and it will help in the process of planning to develop the education workforce. "It will promote innovation and continuous improvement… and will help to raise standards in learning Welsh." Article continues below Cautioning change will not happen overnight, the finance secretary stressed the importance of embedding the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Tom Giffard, for the Conservatives, said his party would support the bill in the final vote because "it's extremely important we achieve that target of a million Welsh speakers". He said: "This is at risk in future," he said. "There are some parties currently outside this Senedd, or perhaps within it, who want to see us reverse that development that we see, and that is very concerning for me and will be concerning in future years." Cefin Campbell – an architect of the bill, which was part of Plaid Cymru's since-collapsed cooperation agreement with Labour said the bill was "truly historic" and an important milestone on the journey to a million Welsh speakers and beyond. Mr Campbell told the Senedd: "Time will tell if this bill succeeds in its ambition to secure one million Welsh speakers by 2050. At the moment, you have to say that it looks like a mountain to climb, with the summit feeling very far away. "But, one of the purposes of mountains is to climb them, so why not put our language boots on and go for it." Article continues below Mr Drakeford said: "In my view, we have as a Senedd succeeded in creating an important bill – a far-reaching bill that will enable all children to become confident Welsh speakers. And, from what I've heard, it appears we will pass the bill today unanimously and that is a powerful signal." After completing its passage through the Senedd, the bill should receive royal assent in the months ahead with no legal challenge expected from the UK Government.
South Wales Argus
09-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Welsh Language and Education Bill passes another hurdle
Senedd members debated the Welsh language and education bill , which aims to ensure all pupils become confident Welsh speakers by the end of compulsory school. If passed, the bill will create three school categories: primarily Welsh; dual language; and primarily English, partly Welsh – with targets for each. A minimum of 10 per cent of Welsh education would be required in primarily English schools, with 50 and 80 per cent for the dual language and primarily Welsh categories respectively. The bill would also put the target of reaching at least a million Welsh speakers by 2050 on a legal footing and establish the National Welsh Language Learning Institute. Senedd members considered dozens of detailed amendments to the bill during a four-hour stage-three debate on May 6. Plaid Cymru's Cefin Campbell said: 'A quarter of a century after the opening of this Senedd, it is disappointing that the majority of children and young people in Wales continue to be deprived of the opportunity to learn Welsh in our education system and to use the language in their everyday life. 'Due to these failures over the past decades, it's very important that we legislate in this area to ensure the necessary progress is made… to reach a million Welsh speakers by 2050.' Mr Campbell proposed raising the minimum requirement in primarily English schools to 20 per cent but Senedd members roundly rejected this amendment. Mark Drakeford, who is responsible for Welsh language policy, argued increasing the minimum to 20 per cent would pose a significant risk the requirement could not feasibly be met. Mr Campbell raised concerns about exemptions from the 10 per cent minimum for primarily English schools which would be able to apply for two three-year extensions. Senedd members voted against an amendment which would have required ministers to issue guidance on how Welsh learning goals apply to pupils with additional learning needs. The bill now moves to stage four: a key vote on the final version agreed at stage three. With Labour and Plaid holding two-thirds of seats, the Senedd is likely to pass the bill on May 13.
Western Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Welsh Language and Education Bill passes another hurdle
Senedd members debated the Welsh language and education bill , which aims to ensure all pupils become confident Welsh speakers by the end of compulsory school. If passed, the bill will create three school categories: primarily Welsh; dual language; and primarily English, partly Welsh – with targets for each. A minimum of 10 per cent of Welsh education would be required in primarily English schools, with 50 and 80 per cent for the dual language and primarily Welsh categories respectively. The bill would also put the target of reaching at least a million Welsh speakers by 2050 on a legal footing and establish the National Welsh Language Learning Institute. Senedd members considered dozens of detailed amendments to the bill during a four-hour stage-three debate on May 6. Plaid Cymru's Cefin Campbell said: 'A quarter of a century after the opening of this Senedd, it is disappointing that the majority of children and young people in Wales continue to be deprived of the opportunity to learn Welsh in our education system and to use the language in their everyday life. 'Due to these failures over the past decades, it's very important that we legislate in this area to ensure the necessary progress is made… to reach a million Welsh speakers by 2050.' Mr Campbell proposed raising the minimum requirement in primarily English schools to 20 per cent but Senedd members roundly rejected this amendment. Mark Drakeford, who is responsible for Welsh language policy, argued increasing the minimum to 20 per cent would pose a significant risk the requirement could not feasibly be met. Mr Campbell raised concerns about exemptions from the 10 per cent minimum for primarily English schools which would be able to apply for two three-year extensions. Senedd members voted against an amendment which would have required ministers to issue guidance on how Welsh learning goals apply to pupils with additional learning needs. The bill now moves to stage four: a key vote on the final version agreed at stage three. With Labour and Plaid holding two-thirds of seats, the Senedd is likely to pass the bill on May 13.
South Wales Guardian
08-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Welsh Language and Education Bill passes another hurdle
Senedd members debated the Welsh language and education bill, which aims to ensure all pupils become confident Welsh speakers by the end of compulsory school. If passed, the bill will create three school categories: primarily Welsh; dual language; and primarily English, partly Welsh – with targets for each. A minimum of 10 per cent of Welsh education would be required in primarily English schools, with 50 and 80 per cent for the dual language and primarily Welsh categories respectively. The bill would also put the target of reaching at least a million Welsh speakers by 2050 on a legal footing and establish the National Welsh Language Learning Institute. Senedd members considered dozens of detailed amendments to the bill during a four-hour stage-three debate on May 6. Plaid Cymru's Cefin Campbell said: 'A quarter of a century after the opening of this Senedd, it is disappointing that the majority of children and young people in Wales continue to be deprived of the opportunity to learn Welsh in our education system and to use the language in their everyday life. 'Due to these failures over the past decades, it's very important that we legislate in this area to ensure the necessary progress is made… to reach a million Welsh speakers by 2050.' Mr Campbell proposed raising the minimum requirement in primarily English schools to 20 per cent but Senedd members roundly rejected this amendment. Mark Drakeford, who is responsible for Welsh language policy, argued increasing the minimum to 20 per cent would pose a significant risk the requirement could not feasibly be met. Mr Campbell raised concerns about exemptions from the 10 per cent minimum for primarily English schools which would be able to apply for two three-year extensions. Senedd members voted against an amendment which would have required ministers to issue guidance on how Welsh learning goals apply to pupils with additional learning needs. The bill now moves to stage four: a key vote on the final version agreed at stage three. With Labour and Plaid holding two-thirds of seats, the Senedd is likely to pass the bill on May 13.
