Evidence By The Welsh Language Soicety Regarding The Proposed Learning And Skills (Wales) Measure

1. The Welsh Language Society welcomes the intention to introduce a draft measure that confirms the Government of Wales’ attempt to create a curriculum and education system that suits the needs of young people in Wales.

2. We would like to see the Draft Measure go further by amending the Local Curriculum’s learning domains. Section 4 of the Measure seeks to add clauses to section 116A of the 2002 Education Act for a Key Stage 4 local curriculum, and section 18 of the Draft Measure seeks to add to section 33A of the 2002 Education Act for a local curriculum for students aged 16-18. In both cases, the third clause lists the learning domains. We propose amending sub-clause (c) from "services for people” to read "cross-cutting study of the local community including its history, geography, economy, ecology, culture and social fabric”. We strongly believe that there is a need to provide education that is relevant to the student’s experience by studying the fabric of his or her surrounding community, and done in a way that empowers the student to understand how he or she can influence it. This is needed for a healthy democracy and for the future of our communities, and such cross-cutting education would develop analytical skills, collating information, evaluation skills, and operational skills that are critical to the student’s personal and educational development. We should take this opportunity to introduce what is dealt with only partially under the PSE heading into the mainstream of the educational experience. Rather than expatiate here, we draw your attention to our policy documents in this area:

http://cymdeithas.org/2003/10/01/addysg_gwerth_astudiaethau_cymunedol_fel_sylfan_i_addysg_a_dealltwriaeth_ar_gyfer_democratiaeth.html
http://cymdeithas.org/2003/10/01/addysg_dysgu_ar_gyfer_datblygiad_cymuned.html
http://cymdeithas.org/2003/10/01/addysg_addysg_berthnasol_cwricwlwm_cyflawn_i_gymru.html
http://cymdeithas.org/2003/10/01/addysg_perthnasedd_ac_atebolrwydd_addysg_alwedigaethol_ac_ol_16_yng_nghymru.html

3. We also propose an amendment to sub-clause (d) of both sections. We propose amending the learning domain entitled "arts, media, culture and languages” to include "and the ability to communicate effectively in both languages of Wales.” We believe that the ability to communicate in both languages is an educational skill as basic as learning how to communicate by the effective use of Information Technology. It is a failure of the education system if it fails to nurture the ability of all students in Wales to communicate effectively through the medium of Welsh. It is completely unacceptable to include such a skill under the general heading of "languages”. This is another chance for the Government to use the Draft Measure to ensure meaningful educational progress in Wales.

4. We support the principle of promoting cooperation between institutions to ensure the broadest possible educational experience for students. Pooling such resources is particularly important in rural areas and in developing the Welsh-medium sector. However, it should be emphasised that the short-term outcome of this for 16-18-year-old students is to anglicize educational provision since, traditionally, further education colleges have been more intransigent than schools in providing Welsh-medium education. In order to avoid this, leadership and resources are needed to ensure substantial and immediate progress in this sector. We emphasise again that any college that fails to equip students to work through the medium of Welsh - particularly in certain parts of Wales - is failing educationally. We refer you to our document

http://cymdeithas.org/pdf/siarter_colegau_ol16.pdf

5. We agree that planning the curriculum for 14-16-year-old students should be the responsibility of the local education authority. We see no reason that this could not be applied also in the case of 16-19-year-old learners. Welsh Ministers should be limited to setting basic criteria. Otherwise, the whole concept of creating a Local Curriculum is undermined.