Valleys parents are consulted onWelsh-medium education

PARENTS in Merthyr Tydfil are being consulted on Welsh-medium education demand.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council aims to gauge requirements through a public consultation being carried out over the next two months.

The survey will focus on parents with children under the age of two who have who have not yet made language choices for their child’s education.

This will give the council time to plan future provision, a spokeswoman explained.

“Identifying and reaching the target audience is vitally important and data provided by the Local Health Board will allow the surveys to be sent to all parents of children under the age of two,” the council said in a statement.

The first Welsh-medium primary school in Merthyr Tydfil, Ysgol Santes Tudful, opened in 1972. This was followed by Ysgol Rhyd y Grug in Aberfan in 1976, with Welsh-medium secondary education provided by Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun in Penywaun, Aberdare.

The council said Welsh Government figures show the benefits of learning Welsh include:

Children who operate in two languages in the curriculum tend to show better performance in tests and examinations.

Welsh-speakers are more likely to hold elite-level qualifications, leading to them securing high-status, well-paid jobs – up to 40% of those who can read, write and speak Welsh have a degree-level qualification, compared to an overall average of 33% for Wales.

Welsh workers with qualifications in Welsh at higher degree and diploma levels earn on average 73% more a week than people qualified to a lower level.

As the level of highest qualifications increases, the gap between Welsh-speakers and English-only speakers widens – up to 41% of Welsh-speakers hold qualifications at first degree and NVQ level and above, compared to 30% for nonWelsh speakers.

The council said: “It is Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council policy to ensure that Welsh-medium education is available to all children whose parents or carers wish them to receive their education through the medium and within reasonable travelling distance from the children’s homes.”

The consultation runs from now until July 31. To take part, visit www.cwmtafhub.com/KMS/ dmart.aspx