Welsh Language Commissioner's office welcomes step in the right direction in developing the language in education

The Welsh Language Commissioner's office welcomes the Welsh Government's new scheme to increase the number of school staff able to teach through the medium of Welsh.

Back in summer 2020, the Commissioner published a report on the language skills of the education workforce. It highlighted a significant shortage in the numbers of teachers being trained who can teach through the medium of Welsh. This will lead to major gaps in schools' ability to introduce the language to an increasing number of children and young people over the next few years. The Commissioner warned that the target of a million Welsh speakers would fail without ambitious action, and made a number of recommendations to the Government.

Dyfan Sion, Strategic Director at the Welsh Language Commissioner's office, said: 'We are pleased that the Welsh Government has considered our recommendations and publish a plan for developing the Welsh language education workforce.

'The plan is an important step in the right direction - and a necessary step in achieving the vision of a million Welsh speakers by 2050.

'The important thing now is that the Government builds on this and ensures that the education objectives and targets of the Cymraeg 2050 strategy are achieved.'

Click here to read the Commissioner's report, The Welsh language and the statutory education workforce in Wales (August 2020).