17-05-2025
'Too many generations have missed out on speaking Welsh... why wait until 2050?'
'Too many generations have missed out on speaking Welsh... why wait until 2050?'
A new bill will put a legal duty on schools to ensure all pupils become competent Welsh speakers
The bill will legally enshrine the goal of achieving at least a million Welsh speakers
(Image: STOKE SENTINEL )
A bill aimed at enhancing Welsh language learning standards has been unanimously approved by the Senedd. The Welsh language education bill, which seeks to ensure all students become proficient in Welsh by the end of compulsory schooling, received unanimous support from Senedd members - but not from Wales Online readers.
Welsh language minister Mark Drakeford stated that the bill would provide pupils with opportunities, open doors to employment, grant access to the rich culture of the language, and enable people to use Welsh in their daily lives. He described it as a new chapter in the history of Welsh education.
The legislation will establish three categories of schools – primarily Welsh; dual language; and primarily English, partly Welsh – each with its own minimum Welsh education targets.
Furthermore, the bill will legally enshrine the goal of achieving at least a million Welsh speakers and set up the National Welsh Language Learning Institute.
The Cymraeg 2050 strategy, spearheaded by ministers, aims to double the daily usage of the language by 2050.
Mr Drakeford added: "The institute will be the focal point for Welsh learning and it will help in the process of planning to develop the education workforce.
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"It will promote innovation and continuous improvement and will help to raise standards in learning Welsh."
Commenter JWV thinks: 'Efforts should be concentrated on raising standards in the important 'core subjects' that pupils need to progress in life.'
VetchClock points out: 'Welsh medium and properly bilingual schools out perform similar English Schools. Also, only 5% of English schools take part in the PISA tests compared with 50% of schools in Wales. Statistically (which is how their scores are judged) the comparisons are meaningless. In England pupils have to learn another language which is not indigenous. What is wrong with speaking your own language in your own country? Starmer, Badenoch and Farage insist on it in England.'
Goatman agrees: 'Countries which have multi-language skills have higher overall education. Most of Europe speaks English now as a second language so having two languages isn't exactly a burden. Those who think it affects education obviously have no idea about the facts and are anti Welsh English settlers or from parts of Wales like Cardiff and Newport that have completely been multicultural for so long the language has almost disappeared. Most visitors to this country on weekend breaks or holidays are fascinated by our ancient proud language and chuffed we have managed to cling on to it. Wales is a beautiful country with a rich heritage and unique culture so protecting that is an excellent thing to do.'
Hughpugh66 retorts: 'Welsh is as far away from International bilingualism as a language could possibly be. The norm is English and French, English and Mandarin, or another well used useful European language.'
Inreality states: 'The UK government should step in and represent the people who have no interest in speaking Welsh. This is the work of a dictatorship, the Welsh public should have a say on it or have an option to opt out.'
JoseJones says: 'Good luck with it. I don't speak Welsh but I support building back our indigenous language that has been suppressed by the language of business.'
Daviesjones agrees: 'Why was this Bill not proposed and passed when the Senedd was first set up? Too many generations have missed out on speaking Welsh since the English set their laws on preventing the language being spoken in schools. Also the migration of Welsh speakers from Welsh speaking areas after WW2 didn't help as the Welsh language was no longer the language spoken at home.
"Many people who move to Wales want to learn the language and do so, people from other countries have learned it. Sadly many Welsh people think it is pointless and are apathetic. Why wait until 2050? It should start straight away, it's a well known fact that if someone is bilingual, it is easier for them to learn another language. Welsh is also a phonetic language unlike English so will help many pupils. Welsh is older than English and it should be for ALL not just the few.'
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Hughpugh66 replies: "Disgraceful, there's no freedom of choice here. Give the resources for those wishing to learn Welsh to do so, but the Senedd should be concentrating on improving Welsh children's maths and science skills.'
How do you feel about the new Welsh language bill? Will it preserve Welsh as an indigenous language? Have your say in our comments section.
