A petition with 1,000 signatures calling for a Welsh Language Federal College

On Thursday Jane Hutt is expected to make an announcement concerning the Welsh Assembly Government's policy regarding a Welsh Medium Federal College. To coincide with this Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg will today be presenting a petition with 1,000 signatures to the Education Minister and the Petition's Committee. The petition draws attention to the four principles that have been central to the campaign from the start.

Rhys Llwyd who is co-coordinator of the Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg campaign said:

"It is absolutely essential that these for principles are accepted by the government if they are truly committed to the establishment of a Welsh Medium Federal College.

The four principles are:

1. A statutory status and independent constitution
2. Full responsibility for Higher Education through the medium of Welsh in Wales
3. Independent funding – with at least £20 million released for the project at the start.
4. It's own independent register of students, giving those students the right also to register with both the Federal College and their traditional institution of Higher Education. This would give them a sense of ownership and belonging of the Federal College."

Elain Haf a student at the University of Cardiff added:

"For those who are genuinely concerned that the creation of a Welsh Medium Federal College as an independent statutory body will release the traditional institutions in Wales of their obligation to Welsh medium education we must make one thing clear. The present institutions will continue to provide courses through the medium of Welsh under the new order. One is reminded of the arguments that ensued during the campaign for S4C – should a new channel be established exclusively for a Welsh language service or should we concentrate on having more Welsh language programmes on the existing English language channels. The argument now is whether we should have a Welsh Medium federal College (with branches on each College campus in Wales) or should we concentrate on developing Welsh medium courses in the present Universities. It is quite obvious by now that the establishment of S4C was a necessity in the development of Welsh medium broadcasting, even though the BBC remains an important provider in this field. In the same way, the establishment of a Welsh Medium Federal College is absolutely necessary in the development of Welsh medium education even though the traditional universities will still have their part to play."

An open letter signed by thirty five leading academics, which are involved in Welsh medium Higher Education on a daily basis has been presented to Jane Hutt, and they have also stressed the principles involved. The petition and the letter together prove the strength of support for this campaign. There is a genuine wish to see the government establish a Welsh medium Federal College, rather than a Board, a Quango or any other structure.

Mwy yn yr un categori(au): News
.