Dirprwy Lywydd, it's designed to be a useful tool for practitioners, providing a timeline for our plans and coherence across the portfolio. Our ambitions for education are unchanged: our national mission is to achieve high standards and aspirations for all, and we will do this by tackling the impact of poverty on educational attainment and supporting every learner. The document doesn't simply address what I see are the issues in education. By speaking to teachers and support staff, lecturers and our learners, I know that they are keen to ensure well-being, equity and diversity in education. We've also drawn on the experience and expertise of other nations and organisations, gleaning best practice and ideas from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Atlantic Rim Collaboratory, and plans from Estonia, Ireland, New Zealand, and others. And I am determined not to allow the pandemic and any potential long-term consequences to compound the effects of poverty on educational outcomes. The Welsh Government will commit to this.

We will ensure equity of outcomes for all children and young people in education. With the objectives and actions laid out in this document, I believe that we will achieve this. The marker of an equitable and excellent system is that every learner and citizen benefits from a broad and balanced curriculum. This is embodied in the Curriculum for Wales and its four purposes. The road map we are publishing now highlights our joint priorities to ensure the success, high standards and well-being of all learners. It sets out the six objectives we believe will help us achieve those priorities. These are: learning for life; breaking down barriers; a positive education for everyone; high-quality teaching and leadership; community-based learning; and Cymraeg for all.

This cannot be achieved by Government alone. We will work with providers and employers, and empower learners and communities to develop strong relationships with education providers. We will guarantee career-long professional learning and support for all staff, and promote well-being and resilience for everyone in education. We also share the responsibility of ensuring a prosperous future for our language. I believe that schools and the wider education system are our most effective tool for creating new speakers and re-engaging learners. With local authority Welsh in education strategic plans, we have a firm basis for planning growth in the language for the next decade. We will continue to innovate in the use of digital technology, as it's a crucial tool in promoting bilingualism, supporting lifelong learning, and raising attainment.

These are exciting times for education in Wales. We are in the middle of a reform programme from reception to year 11. We are focused on its successful roll-out and developing new GCSEs to support the new curriculum. Vocational qualifications and the wider 16 to 18 offer is also under review. Transformational reforms to post-16 education are also in train, and need to be aligned so that we can maximise the benefit to learners in Wales, from the early years to adults seeking a second chance. This is really important as we move towards the establishment of the commission for tertiary education and research. The commission will be responsible for the strategic planning and funding for post-16 education and research, which includes sixth forms, further education colleges, higher education, work-based learning, apprenticeships, and adult learning. This whole-system approach to tertiary education will help us narrow educational inequalities, expand opportunities, and raise standards. Our tertiary reforms will support the different but complementary strengths of all institutions. In this way, learners of all ages will have access to the full range of opportunities, and will be able to contribute economically, academically, and to our communities.

We want and need an education system that works together, making the transition from one stage of learning to the next seamless, adapting quickly to changes in the world and in technology. This new road map brings together our policies and ambitions for education. We'll continue to tackle the impact of poverty on attainment, and provide all learners with the knowledge, skills and experiences to be healthy, educated and enterprising citizens of Wales and the world. Wales has a rich cultural heritage, which includes a high regard for learning, and we are building on this. I believe that this road map is strengthening those foundations, which will help us lead to a prosperous, fairer and equitable future.