4. 90-second Statements

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:05 pm on 11 May 2022.

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Photo of Sioned Williams Sioned Williams Plaid Cymru 3:05, 11 May 2022

(Translated)

Thank you, Llywydd. It gives me great pleasure to call on the Senedd to celebrate the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol's tenth anniversary, and I, as Plaid Cymru spokesperson on post-16 education, wish to congratulate them on their first decade of planning and developing Welsh-language and bilingual provision—provision that is providing valuable opportunities to so many students in our universities, further education colleges and in terms of apprenticeships.

All too recently—indeed, when I was a student—it was only by chance, if the lecturer in your particular field of study happened to be able to speak Welsh, that it was possible to study through the medium of Welsh. But, thanks to the One Wales Government's agreement between Plaid Cymru and the Labour Party, the work of forming the coleg ffederal, as the plan was called, began, which led to the establishment of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol in 2011.

I was working at Swansea University at the time, and I remember clearly the excitement and delight as the work of planning and investing in Welsh-medium provision went ahead. There are now 4,700 students every year who study an element of their degree course through the medium of Welsh. And the coleg's recent work in further education colleges is just as important and exciting. And thanks to the Government's co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru, the coleg will begin investing in apprenticeships too.

So, happy birthday to the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, and all the best with the work that is so important to our nation's future.