The Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning,
announced today that £46m
has been allocated from the Welsh Medium Capital Grant and
Childcare Offer Capital Grant to support the growth in Welsh
medium education.
The grant will support some 41 projects across 16 local
authorities and create an additional 2818 school and childcare
places for Welsh medium learners. This is in addition to the £5
million for the Pantycelyn development announced earlier this
year, making a total of £ 51 million to support Welsh education.
The Minister made the announcement today during a visit to
Ysgol Gyfyn Gwynllyw in Pontypool which will be receiving a
new primary school and nursery on the site as a result of
the Welsh Medium Capital Grant.
Also among the 41 projects that will now be funded through
the grant are new Welsh medium primaries in Merthyr Tydfil
and Torfaen, the first ever Welsh medium school in Monmouth
town, and an innovative Welsh language centre in
Denbighshire.
Minister for Welsh Language and Lifelong Learning,
said:
“These projects will make a significant contribution to
the provision of Welsh medium education. Having a
comfortable, modern, fit-for-purpose environment in which
to learn is vital to ensuring young people have the best
possible education. This extra funding will mean that
even more of our students will be able to benefit from
excellent facilities to learn through the medium of
Welsh.
“In addition to creating new schools and expanding
current sites, this extra funding will give the green
light to Welsh language centres across Wales. These
centres make learning Welsh as a second language much
more accessible and that’s vital if the language is to
continue to grow and thrive.
“Our challenge of reaching a million Welsh speakers by
2050 is a significant challenge and education is key to
our success. By investing in new Welsh medium schools and
improving and increasing the teaching of Welsh in English
medium schools we are paving the way for the future and
laying the right foundations to reach this target.”
Minister for Children, said:
“Providing early opportunities for Welsh learning is
vital if we are to increase the number of Welsh
speakers, and I’m pleased today’s funding announcement
will also go towards increasing the number of childcare
places for Welsh medium learners.
“By working together across government and combining
funding from both the Welsh Medium Capital and
Childcare Offer Capital Grants we have been able to get
better return on investment, resulting in better
services for young people.”
