WAG must work harder on Welsh Medium Education - Williams (Kirsty Williams AM )

Cymraeg
English

Kirsty Williams AM <info@kirstywilliams.org.uk>

WAG must work harder on Welsh Medium Education - Williams

November 3, 2008 3:00 PM

Kirsty Williams AM, Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Education, has welcomed the establishment of the Coleg Ffederal Planning Board.

Kirsty said: "I welcome this step forward for Welsh Medium Education. I hope that it will be a step in the right direction towards a Coleg Cymraeg.

"I do however fear that it has taken the current administration more than a year to establish the board; which should be the easiest and quickest part of the whole process.

"The Welsh Assembly Government is going to have to work much harder in order to meet their One Wales target of beginning to implement their Welsh Medium Education strategy in 2009."

Notes:

The Minister's statement was released today:

WRITTEN STATEMENT BY THE

WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT

Title: Coleg Ffederal Planning Board Membership

Date: 3 November 2008

By: Jane Hutt, Minister for Children, Education, Lifelong

Learning and Skills

In July 2008 I issued a statement setting out recent developments in Welsh medium higher education, including the work of the Welsh medium Higher Education Network. I also announced the establishment of a time-limited Coleg Ffederal Planning Board, to be chaired by Professor Robin Williams.

Professor Williams has now chosen his panel of experts to assist him in exploring models for the Coleg Ffederal, and I am pleased to announce the membership.

Robin Williams Chair

Rhys Llwyd Welsh Language Society

Ieuan Wyn Campaign for a Welsh-Medium Federal College

Ben Gray NUS Wales and member of HE Review Group

Eurig Davies Ystalyfera Comprehensive School

Meri Huws Welsh Language Board

Elinor Gwynn Countryside Commission for Wales

David Blaney/Celia Hunt HEFCW

Medwin Hughes Principal, Trinity College, Carmarthen

Greg Walker HEW

Aled Jones Aberystwyth University

Hefin Jones Cardiff University

Colin Baker Bangor University

Huw Morris Swansea University

Llion Jones Canolfan Bedwyr, Bangor

The Planning Board's task is to advise and inform the Chair in preparing his report. The report is intended to advise the Welsh Assembly Government on how the One Wales commitment to Welsh medium provision can be taken forward. The work of the Coleg Ffederal Planning Board will also be developed within the context of the wider Review of Higher Education, and my Department's emerging Welsh Medium Education Strategy.

The Board will:

-take evidence from a wide range of models, including international practice in relation to bilingualism;

-explore ways of furthering the work of the Welsh Medium Higher Education

Sector Group, building on existing developments and encouraging wider participation in the future;

-explore possible models for developing the Coleg Ffederal, working through,

and with, all higher education institutions in Wales to increase Welsh medium

provision.

The Coleg Ffederal Planning Board held its first meeting on 20th October and

a further three meetings are planned between December 2008 and March

2009. Professor Williams will submit his independent report to me by June

2009.