Investment in Welsh Government Sabbatical Scheme may help if urgent action is taken
Over 17,000 teachers are needed if the Welsh government is going to meet its ambitious target of 1 million Welsh speakers by the year 2050, according to a campaign group.
The report by Dyfofol I’r Iaith, has suggested investment in the Welsh Government Sabbatical Scheme would help address the shortage of Welsh speaking workers in schools.
“We are, however, dismayed by the lack of necessary action by the Welsh Government.” Said Heini Gruffudd, who conducted the report for Dyfofol I’r Iaith.
“Having accepted a target of a million speakers, broadly doubling the number of Welsh speakers today, by 2050, the Government has not yet responded with the necessary wide-ranging schemes that could bring this about.”
The committee were further disappointed after a recent meeting with the Cabinet Secretary of education informed them that there would be no need for increasing the number of teachers, if there was no growth in Welsh medium education.
Committee chairwoman, Plaid Cymru MS Delyth Jewell, said “This Committee is supportive of the target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050, but that ambition is in serious jeopardy if things continue as they are.
“It’s clear that having enough teachers who can speak Welsh is crucial to addressing this issue and we need the Welsh Government to show real ambition over the next few years. More teachers should be encouraged to learn Welsh and those working in early-years education should also be able to access the same opportunities.”
The Welsh Governments report ‘Cymreag 2050: A million Welsh speakers’ has noted the importances of increasing the number of teachers and Welsh medium schools.
Ms. Gruffudd further stated, “The target of a million is certainly ambitious. Doubling the number of speakers calls for more than doubling efforts as it means establishing new schools, training far more teachers etc. As we see it the appropriate large-scale action does not seem too forthcoming.
“The growth of Welsh medium education is being stifled by delay in decision making, delay in planning.”
The report by Dyfofol I’r Iaith also highlighted that such delays will further increase the unlickness of the Welsh Government achieving one million Welsh speakers by the year 2050.