FE courses in Wales should be offered in Welsh as well as in English, according to the Liberal Democrats.
The party has today called for Wales’ national college - Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol - to be expanded to include further education.
The virtual college was launched in 2011 and offers Welsh language courses and scholarships to students in Wales’ eight universities. The Welsh Lib Dems are calling for it to be expanded to include FE colleges - a move the party says would have a “transformational” impact on the provision and quality of Welsh language courses.
Today the Welsh Liberal Democrats are launching a campaign to protect the college and expand its remit to include FE. This comes as Welsh education secretary Kirsty Williams announced that the future role of the college will be reviewed. After operating for five years, Ms Williams said it was the “right time” to consider what direction it takes.
‘Transformational impact’
Cadan ap Tomos, the Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson for the Welsh language and young people, said: “I’ve seen so many of my classmates, and students across Wales, benefiting from a Welsh language higher education that might never have existed without the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.
“But aspiring plumbers and carers should have just as much opportunity to learn their skills in Welsh as historians or lawyers. Expanding the coleg’s remit would equip more young people with work-based Welsh language skills, helping the Welsh language become the language of choice in even more workplaces.
“Setting up the coleg five years ago has had a transformational impact on the breadth and quality of Welsh language higher education. Now is the time to expand its remit so further education students can benefit, too.”
Welsh education secretary Kirsty Williams said: “Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol plays a key part in making sure our young people, on leaving school, can continue to use the language and maintain and develop their language skills for use in future employment.
“Following five years of operation, it is now the right time to consider the role of the Coleg for the future. That is why I am announcing the establishment of a task and finish group to review the activities of the Coleg and make recommendations on the way forward.
“I will appoint a chair in the coming weeks and representation will be sought from key stakeholders with experience and expertise in the field of higher education, further education and Welsh-medium learning.”
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