5. Statement by the Minister for Education and Welsh Language: Welsh in education workforce

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:13 pm on 24 May 2022.

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Photo of Jeremy Miles Jeremy Miles Labour 4:13, 24 May 2022

(Translated)

I thank Samuel Kurtz for that question. As he said in his contribution, nobody has a monopoly on good ideas. This document is the fruit of the Government's work, working with our stakeholders and our partners across a range of sectors, but if you have further suggestions that are constructive, then we would be very content to consider them. As you say, everybody has a contribution to make to ensure that the Welsh language flourishes and prospers and to ensure the numbers that we want to see speaking the language. So, we have a range of steps here that extend from the ways of inspiring people and attracting people to teach the Welsh language as a career choice, steps to make the qualification process smoother to teach in Welsh, and also a range of measures to try to encourage people to remain in the profession, to sustain and retain people in the profession, which is also so important.

In terms of accountability and progress against the strategic aims in the plan, the Member will see that there is a series of tables in the document that describes, for each local authority, the demands on them to ensure an increase in their workforce that is able to teach through the medium of Welsh. That aligns with what has happened this year for the first time, namely the WESPs that extend over a period of 10 years rather than three years, so this plan aligns with the 10-year strategic plans, but the intention certainly is not that these steps should be taken over that 10 years in a leisurely manner; the Member will see that there are specific dates outlined according to the steps that we've set out, and the intention is to look at the tables and data published every two years and to publish an update, so that progress against the plan is clear and that we are accountable to the Senedd for that.