Shortages in the Teaching Profession

Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Education and Welsh Language – in the Senedd at 2:55 pm on 18 May 2022.

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Photo of Jeremy Miles Jeremy Miles Labour 2:55, 18 May 2022

The most recent figures that I've seen show acceptances for secondary priority subjects, which is the area of key concern, increasing by 8 per cent, and acceptances to train to teach through the medium of Welsh, including Welsh as a language, increasing by 45 per cent. So, that's the reality on the ground. But, actually, the issue is much bigger than the figures for one or two years; it's a strategic need to increase the supply of people coming into the profession able to teach Welsh and through the medium of Welsh, but also to ensure that we have teaching assistants able to do the important work that they do as well through the medium of Welsh. And I think there's a need for great creativity and I think there's a need to do things differently—to look for financial incentives; to make it easier for people to train, to convert from the work that they might already be doing; also to look at letting young people know as they are going through school what the options are for them to teach in Welsh, and marketing, if you like, teaching in Welsh and through Welsh to them as an option. So, I look forward to the Member's comments on the plan when it's published for consultation very shortly.