Dawn Bowden: ...on the rise, I'd be interested to know what specifically we're likely to see in the new curriculum that will ensure that we do see more tolerant, inclusive and respectful individuals coming out of school, who have a greater understanding of the impact of their words and their actions. I'm sure you'll probably say that this is probably more appropriate for discussion or question once we're...
Dawn Bowden: ...starting out with a grant from the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, then with the assistance of several local groups of volunteers, can be part of the international effort of remembrance, research and education about Holocaust. This year, we will reflect on the theme of Holocaust Memorial Day, torn from home, the challenges of being torn from home in the face of war, conflict and persecution...
Dawn Bowden: ...know that, across the many elements of the programme for government, you can be proud to have led a Government that's delivering improvements in my constituency. You'll recall that we've opened new schools and refurbished schools, that we've welcomed new investments, including General Dynamics in Pentrebach, Sharp Clinical in Rhymney, and, of course, the ongoing dualling of the Heads of...
Dawn Bowden: ..., amongst the choices made by this Welsh Government is the drive to improve our economy and to support the skills development to help achieve that aim. And I'm pleased to see that the further education sector is at the heart of that agenda to build a Welsh economy that can work for everyone. I've seen that agenda being put to work in my own constituency of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, where...
Dawn Bowden: ...you for that answer, First Minister. With only weeks left for the Brexit negotiations to be concluded, we're still faced with continuing and huge uncertainty in so many areas, including our higher education system. I'm told that applications from EU students are down across Wales, but, for those EU students actually accepting places at the University of South Wales, which of course...
Dawn Bowden: 2. What recent assessment has the Welsh Government made of the impact of Brexit on recruiting students from the EU 27 countries to educational establishments across Wales? OAQ52862
Dawn Bowden: ...again, taking this opportunity to make a parochial point about the upper Rhymney valley. While I welcome the kind of investment that we've seen in things like the delivery of the new Idris Davies School in Abertysswg, for instance, I do remain concerned that Rhymney is becoming a forgotten corner of the Valleys. There's been no obvious or substantial economic investment coming its way,...
Dawn Bowden: Thank you for that response, Cabinet Secretary. We've both just attended the launch of the report called 'Bridging the Gap', which deals with the educational well-being of adopted children. And I'm sure that all of us want to play our part in ensuring that every adopted or looked-after child has an equal chance in school. And while I know that budget decisions are for debate in the financial...
Dawn Bowden: 1. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the educational well-being of adopted children? OAQ52403
Dawn Bowden: ...responsibilities? Is the Minister for culture pushing people in the arts sector to engage more with the homelessness sector to use the capacity of the arts and music to reach out to people? In education, is Government alert to those children who are placed at great risk by the lack of a safe, stable home? And similar questions could be put forward to all Government departments, so I await...
Dawn Bowden: ...-19 budget round, less of this money was hypothecated or ring-fenced, therefore giving greater flexibility and discretion over local authority spending priorities. From my recent questions to the education Secretary, you'll be aware that, in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, this means that school funding is being cut and breakfast clubs are under threat, which is actually contrary to...
Dawn Bowden: ...some of the highest in the UK, let alone Wales. Given what you've said about the benefits of breakfast clubs, I'm sure you'll agree that these proposed cuts, alongside a cut of £465,000 to the school budgets this year alone, which I've mentioned to you previously, are a threat to the well-being and life chances of local children, some of whom are in our poorest communities. However,...
Dawn Bowden: 4. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on the importance of breakfast clubs in schools? OAQ52230
Dawn Bowden: Indeed, and I know that the Welsh Government has a long-standing commitment to school funding, in spite of the UK Government's continued austerity programme, and this year's local government settlement, as you've already outlined, has reflected this. However, we also know that local authorities have successfully argued for education funding not to be ring-fenced, and I appreciate that much...
Dawn Bowden: 7. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on school funding in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council? OAQ52032
Dawn Bowden: ...aware that there are some 3,000 different asbestos-containing materials—so-called ACMs—in use across the country, and I chair the cross-party group on asbestos, primarily looking at asbestos in schools and other public buildings. So, I thought it was incumbent on me to make sure that we're doing what we should be doing on our own estate if we're looking at this in other areas. So, I'm...
Dawn Bowden: ...helping to develop employability and the essential skills of the workforce—in a number of cases, actually providing people with the most basic literacy and numeracy skills that they actually left school without. And can I seek your assurance that this will continue to be a key feature of any employability plan?
Dawn Bowden: ...over 400 libraries across the country have closed, it is the effort of so many volunteers that has been a key part in securing, and now looking to expand, this local service—none more so than the school employee Ann Mills, who has driven this project with support from Bedlinog Community Council, the county borough council, and Welsh Government. The volunteering efforts provided the...
Dawn Bowden: ...the well-being objectives, can I ask you what consideration, if any, you've given to initiatives that we've seen in France and more recently in Scotland to control the use of mobile phones in schools as a way of helping to combat both school bullying and disruption to learning?
Dawn Bowden: ...hand, the benefits of the investment by Welsh Government in the future of young learners there. I'm sure you'll agree that such a development shows the clear benefits of our capital investment in education. Would you therefore agree with me that the new administration in Merthyr Tydfil council needs to build on this record of success and that a decisive and objective decision now needs...
