£4.2m to boost teaching of Welsh – Welsh Lib Dems respond

£4.2m to boost teaching of Welsh – Welsh Lib Dems respond
Welsh Liberal Democrat Education Secretary Kirsty Williams is investing an extra £4.2m to support the teaching and learning of Welsh and subjects through the medium of Welsh.
A new one-year pilot sabbatical scheme course for primary teachers to develop their Welsh-language skills will be delivered. This new pilot will be added to the range of sabbatical scheme courses currently delivered across Wales.
Additional money will also be provided to Regional Education consortia to undertake a programme of work which will include mapping the Welsh language skills of the workforce; mentoring and school-to-school support; and providing a programme of Welsh language professional learning for practitioners.
Welsh Lib Dem Spokesperson for the Welsh Language, Cadan ap Tomos said;
“I am delighted that it is the Welsh Liberal Democrats making the Welsh language a key part of ensuring that we have a confident, supported, and skilled workforce which has the tools necessary to prepare our children and young people for the future.
“By ensuring that our teachers are confident in using the Welsh language in a range of different environments, we can provide all children in all schools the opportunity to develop their Welsh language skills and the opportunities which come as a result.
“It is essential that we provide every child with the opportunity to succeed and the ability to take full advantage of the opportunities around them, and that is what Kirsty Williams is delivering in Government.”
Education Secretary Kirsty Williams said:
“Developing a teaching workforce to teach Welsh and deliver education through the medium of Welsh is essential in creating more Welsh speakers and will be a priority over the next five years.
“This means planning to support the development of teachers and assistants and expanding the sabbatical scheme and other professional learning opportunities for the present workforce. Well crafted and delivered professional development is important because it delivers benefits to the individual, their profession and the public.”
“This investment aligns with our proposals for new teaching standards in Wales which will provide opportunities for teachers to develop their skills throughout their career to meet the needs of the education system.”