Modern Foreign Languages

Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Education – in the Senedd at 1:56 pm on 25 April 2018.

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Photo of David Melding David Melding Conservative 1:56, 25 April 2018

Thank you for that answer, but as you well know, there's been an incredible decline in the teaching of modern foreign languages in Wales, as was demonstrated by the British Council. It is sadly also the case in other parts of the UK, but here in Wales between 2002 and 2016 the number of pupils studying a foreign language to GCSE standard declined by 48 per cent, and at A-level declined by 44 per cent. So, the actual absolute numbers now are embarrassingly small, and various reasons have been attributed to this, including the predominance of compulsory subjects and even the operation of the Welsh baccalaureate. So, how is the 'Global futures' project going to deliver any substantive change? Because I understand the trend is still downwards.