4. Statement by the Minister for Education: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:53 pm on 29 April 2020.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Delyth Jewell Delyth Jewell Plaid Cymru 4:53, 29 April 2020

(Translated)

Minister, I wanted to ask about the higher education sector, please. The main emphasis has been on ensuring continuation of education in our school sector, particularly the need to prioritise what year 12 students will do for A-levels, but can I ask you what consideration has been given in forward planning for the future to ensuring that we reduce as much as possible the interruption to work-based learning, apprenticeships and colleges?

And, in turning to mental health support, can you please ensure that further education will have the same access to mental health support services in order to deal with the impact of the current crisis, just as schools have?

Finally, what is your assessment of the broader impact of coronavirus on the number of HE students, and what will the implications of that be in the context of the vulnerable financial position of Welsh universities in the year to come?