Joyce Watson: ...that the individual who thinks it's okay never finds himself in need, because then he'll know how it feels. But the point I wanted to ask you, Minister, is what conversations you've had to try and educate the Tories in Westminster about providing proper free childcare for 48 weeks, for example. You've already mentioned it covers in Wales education and training opportunities to help those...
Joyce Watson: .... I'm sure that, like me, you are concerned by the news over the weekend that one in five students at Russell Group universities have considered dropping out over the cost of living. I returned to education as an adult, and at the same time trying to raise a young family. It was difficult enough then. I haven't got a clue how people are going to cope now. You have mentioned, of course, the...
Joyce Watson: I now call on the Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles.
Joyce Watson: I have selected the amendment to the motion. I call on the Minister for Education and Welsh Language to formally move amendment 1 tabled in the name of Lesley Griffiths.
Joyce Watson: ...of confrontation and lack of dialogue quite recently, and it serves no-one well. So, I really welcome this statement that you've made today, and I also welcome the fact that we're getting into schools and teaching young people the benefits of knowing their rights at work before they go into work. So, if they see a situation that isn't to their benefit, they will be able to raise those...
Joyce Watson: Trefnydd, I'd like to hear from the education Minister about what is being done to address misogynistic ideology in the classroom. The case of Andrew Tate has lifted the lid on a pervasive, toxic and dangerous culture that is targeting vulnerable boys in particular. And it's endemic. I must confess I'd not heard of him until the current legal case, because I'm not on the platforms or...
Joyce Watson: There is, as you say, Minister, some fantastic work that's going on in the schools around respectful and healthy relationships, and that's hugely important. But we need to spread the message wider than schools and take it outside the school gates to organisations like, for example, the Scouts and army cadets, football clubs, and other places where boys find themselves. So, are you able to...
Joyce Watson: ...the Welsh Government have agreed to adopt Estyn's definition of sexual harassment, as recommended in the report. As the report points out, peer-on-peer sexual harassment is so prevalent amongst school-age children and young people that it has become normalised. That is extremely worrying. Many children and young people may not even realise that what they're experiencing is sexual...
Joyce Watson: How is the Welsh Government supporting parents in Mid and West Wales with the cost of the school day?
Joyce Watson: ...is to help tackle and respond to that poverty that I've just outlined, and I know that the Welsh Government has put forward policies, like the extended Summer of Fun, which is in that report, free school meals for every primary school pupil—really critical now in this time—and the expanded childcare offer, so that parents can go out to work and earn some money and also have some...
Joyce Watson: .... In recent years, there have been huge strides in the prevention of cervical cancer through the introduction of the human papillomavirus vaccine programme. That vaccine was first rolled out in schools in the UK for teenage girls in 2008 and has been available for boys since 2019. It has had a hugely positive impact on cervical cancer rates since its introduction. A recent study including...
Joyce Watson: Research has shown that many children simply opt out of getting their free school dinner—there’s been a lot of work done on that—and that’s because they face stigma from their peers. But this policy, this universal free school meal policy, removes that stigma, and that is really something to be proud of. We know that children like to fit in, and I believe that having universal free...
Joyce Watson: Minister, there's been significant interest in the reported consultation on school uniforms, and the First Minister spoke about this yesterday. The Welsh Government, of course, has extended the pupil development grant to support more families with the cost of uniforms and school kit to the extent of £200, but the Children's Society have said that the average cost of school uniform is still...
Joyce Watson: I call on the Minister for Education and Welsh Language to reply to the debate. Jeremy Miles.
Joyce Watson: Thank you. Before we move to the Stage 3 debate on the Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill, I will suspend proceedings for 10 minutes, in accordance with Standing Order 12.18. The bell will be rung five minutes before reconvening. Please, could all Members ensure they return promptly, so that voting preparations can take place?
Joyce Watson: ...indeed all health boards across Wales, and are you able to give any further details on how this role will help improve early diagnosis, reduce the time women wait for treatment, and also improve education, so that both clinicians and patients can recognise the signs and the symptoms as early as is possible?
Joyce Watson: ...'re going to look at—and this plan is—ending institutional racism and systemic racism, then we clearly have to tackle those institutions where we find the prevalence. Of course, that will be in education and it will also be in health. We've seen the inequality within the system of women's health that came forward under COVID, which has already been mentioned just now. And we have to...
Joyce Watson: ...'t actually happened after COVID because of the pressures that has brought to bear. That clearly is part of a preventative course of action, and I just hope that we can get that back on track. Education, of course, is a major factor in helping to prevent disease and diagnose it at an earlier age. How many women, for example, are aware of cardiovascular disease being the biggest threat to...
Joyce Watson: What is the Welsh Government doing to support families meet the cost of the school day in Mid and West Wales?
Joyce Watson: Minister, I'd like to ask for a statement on school meal standards at Ysgol Dyffryn Taf in Whitland, or rather the lack of standards. Recent reports in the press have shown some pretty disturbing images of undercooked and watery food, including meat, which has been served to pupils in recent weeks. And if that wasn't bad enough, many pupils and parents have said that the portion sizes are...
