Majority Support For Welsh Medium Education - Poll Results Hailed By Welsh Language Society

Ffred Ffransis, spokesman for the Welsh Language Society (Cymdeithas yr Laith Gymraeg), has acclaimed the results a poll commissioned by his organisation which shows that  63% of the people surveyed agreed that schools “should teach all pupils to communicate effectively in Welsh” thus ensuring graduates enjoy a command of the Welsh tongue upon graduation.  

Ffrancis is quoted in multiple news reports as follows: “The education system should not deprive a single child of the right to be able to communicate and work in Welsh. At the moment, our system is failing and is creating second-class citizens, without the same work or cultural opportunities as others. That’s because of a postcode lottery of access to Welsh-medium education, their financial circumstances, or their parents’ choice.” 

The Welsh Language Society is in the forefront of the struggle to preserve, promote and protect the Celtic tongue of Wales. The group define themselves on their web page with these words:  “Cymdeithas is a group of people who seek equality of access to the Welsh language and campaign positively in a non-violent way for rights of people in Wales to use the language in every aspect of everyday life."

This latest news follows on a September 2013 article posted by Transceltic on the growing support for expanded Welsh medium education and broad coalition, including Rugby Coach Robin McBryde and MP Susan Elan Jones, had called in a letter to Welsh First Minister, Carwyn Jones, to "abolish the teaching of Welsh as a 'second language' like French or Spanish."   The letter was signed by an impressive list of supporters reflecting deep bipartisan support for this initiative.  Signers of the letter to First Minister Jones include the first female ArchDruidess of the Gorsedd, Christine Jones, Assembly members Ann Jones (Labour) and Llyr Gruffyadd (Plaid Cymru),  Plaid Cymru MP Johnathan Edwards, Councillors and Educationalists. 

Ffred Ffransis, said at the time "Welsh is not a 'second' language but belongs to every young person in Wales, and it is an educational failing if pupils leave school at a disadvantage of being unable to communicate and work in Welsh in a modern bilingual country. We need a system where every pupil receives at least part of the curriculum through the medium of Welsh so that they can use the language confidently."

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/poll-reveals-clear-majority...

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-29994102

http://www.transceltic.com/blog/welsh-not-second-language-coalition-call...