(Title Image: Daily Post)
At this afternoon’s First Minister’s Question, Luke Fletcher MS (Plaid, South Wales West), raised an issue that’s been raised before in the Senedd – the relative under-performance of Bridgend Council in meeting the demand for Welsh-medium education.
Several families have had to send their children long distances to receive Welsh-medium education due to a lack of spaces closer to home – even opting against Welsh-medium education altogether. He accused Bridgend Council of failing to ensure Welsh-medium education was a “realistic option” in several communities for several years.
Therefore, what the Welsh Government would do to ensure Bridgend Council takes the matter seriously?
The First Minister told the Senedd the issue of accessing the school of a parent’s choice was one they would all be familiar with as it something they deal with regularly in casework.
He’s already discussed the matter with the constituency member, Sarah Murphy MS (Lab, Bridgend) – though didn’t add to that.
Mark Drakeford pointed towards proposals for a new Ysgol Y Ferch o’r Sger in North Cornelly as a sign of progress in the county, as well as plans for a new/relocated Welsh-medium primary school (though the original plans proved rather controversial). He was confident Bridgend Council were “on the right track”.
One policy welcomed by Huw Irranca-Davies MS (Lab, Ogmore) is the investment in four Welsh-medium childcare centres around the county.
Mark Drakeford agreed that the best way to increase interest in Welsh-medium education was to start young. Bridgend Council has received £3million in capital funding from the Welsh Government to deliver those centres.
