CARMARTHENSHIRE County Council has approved a proposal to switch Llangennech School from dual stream education to Welsh Medium education.
In an, at times, bitter debate there was stark division along political lines with many Labour members supporting the idea of increasing Welsh language education in principle, but objecting to it in practice and in the particular case of Llangennech.
The debate was heralded by a series of hostile questions directed at Education Executive Board member Gareth Jones from those claiming to represent Llangennech village.
In an unusually divisive debate, the vast majority of Labour members spoke against the policy they had put in train while they held the reins of power at County Hall. Cllrs Antony Jones and Terry Davies making strong arguments against proceeding with the change to Ysgol Llangennech’s status.
Supporting the proposal, Plaid Cymru’s Alun Lenny and Linda Evans were swift to point out the advantages of being bilingual, the ultimate aim of moving Ysgol Llangennech along the language continuum, while Cllr Gwyneth Thomas (Llangennech, Plaid) set out her reasoned response to some of the claims made by objectors.
The debate highlighted the problems endemic with the processes put in place by the Welsh Government, with debate, dissent, and bureaucracy extending over eighteen months as a result of the Statutory Procedure councils are obliged to follow.
One Labour member blamed her own lack of educational attainment as being a result of placement in Welsh Medium education by her parents as a child. Cllr Tegwen Devichand, Labour, nodded in agreement alongside.
An amendment to postpone a decision was rejected by 37-21 and the motion to establish a Welsh-medium school was passed by 38-20.
The next step will be for approval by the Welsh Government.
In response to Carmarthenshire County Council’s decision to approve the recommendation to change the language category of Llagnnech school for to become a Welsh school David Williams, vice-chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith in Carmarthenshire said: “We are grateful that Carmarthen County Council have led the way and are begining yo ensure that no child is deprived of Welsh medium education.
“We call now for the Council to move, without delay to ensure that all children develop the skill to work in Welsh and English. Moving all schools in the county, over time, towards becoming Welsh schools is one of the key element of the strategy put together by the Council’s Census Taskgroup so we look forward to seeing plans for other schools in the County.
“Welsh medium education is the only wasy to ensure that children leave school fluent in both Welsh and English. Carmarthenshire County Council is therefore leading the way for the rest of Wales.”
FULL REPORT in Friday’s Herald.
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