Broad Coalition Urges Action To Ensure "All Children Gain Welsh Proficiency"

The battle lines are hardening in the struggle to make Welsh the language of instruction in schools in Wales. The Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas Yr Laith Gymraeg) has issued an open letter to Wales First Minster Carwyn Jones calling for actions to “Ensure All Children Gain Welsh Proficiency”.  The website “The Daily Wales – News for a Sovereign Nation” is reporting that the letter (see the full text via the link provided below) has been signed by a broad coalition of prominent supporters of the Welsh tongue.  The signatories include County Councillor Cefin Campbell (Lanfihangel Aberbythych), Simon Brooks who is a former editor of the Welsh language current affairs magazine “Barn”, noted author Nia Royles, the Welsh Language Board’s former Chief Executive Meiron Prys Davies, Archdruid Christine James, Chaired Bard Meriwood Hopwood, Assembly Member Llyr Griffyd and former Rugby Union player Robyn McBride.  The Daily Wales describes that the intent of the signers of the letter is to express their disappointment in the delay of over a year in reforming standards for Welsh medium education. 

This follows on news reports in October 2013 that the same broad coalition called in a letter to the First Minister Jones to universally introduce Welsh medium education, that is the teaching of subject matter in Welsh rather than Welsh being taught as a second language.  At that time Ffred Ffransis, Education Spokesman for The Welsh Language Society made the following statement in response to crticism of the call for Welsh medium education: 

"We believe the Welsh language is a unique inheritance for every child in the country, regardless of their background . But at the moment, the system is grossly unfair as only a minority of young people get Welsh medium education. Every pupil should be fluent and able to use the language in day-to-day life. The system should not deny young people that right. It has proved many times that self-styled anti-Welsh spokespeople never truly represent the views of the majority who want their children to use Welsh properly rather than go through the motions as at present."

http://cymdeithas.org/dogfen/galwad-am-ddiwygio-cymraeg-ail-iaith-yn-syt...

http://dailywales.net/2014/05/02/ensure-all-children-gain-welsh-proficie...

http://www.transceltic.com/blog/celtic-tongue-shows-its-strength-welsh-l...