Consultation Response
Senedd Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee
Deadline for Response: 27 April 2025
Learners and staff in FE are eager to further develop their skills in Welsh. Current initiatives in FE supported by Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol support the use of Welsh being spoken FE settings to encourage confidence to speak bilingually. Data this year shows that there are 35% of learners from priority areas (Health and Social Care, Agriculture, Sports and Leisure, Creative Industries, Business, and Construction) and 71% of staff from the academic departments taking part.
The ongoing challenge faced by colleges is ensuring there are enough lecturers with the skills required to teach through the medium of Welsh. This is especially challenging in some sectors, where the lecturer must be a dual professional, with both first-hand industry experience, and Welsh language teaching skills. While several organisations have a role to play, and collaboration is to be welcomed, the scale of the challenge facing the sector in terms of teacher shortages requires clear and firm leadership at a national level to drive the agenda ahead. To meet the Welsh Government’s 2050 target of a million Welsh speakers, significant investment is needed.
Further Information
Clare Williams, Policy Officer
Clare.Williams@ColegauCymru.ac.uk
