Decision details
Plaid Cymru Debate
Decision Maker: Plenary - Fifth Senedd
Status: Complete
Is Key decision?: Yes
Purpose:
To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1. Notes that it is three years since the publication of Professor Sioned Davies's report, that recommended the removal of 'Welsh second language' and establishing one Welsh language learning continuum in its place.
2. Notes that the First Minister's letter of December 2015 states his opinion that the concept of "Welsh as a second language" creates an artificial difference, and we are not of the view that it offers a useful basis for making policies for the future.
3. Notes the importance of the education system in order to reach the Welsh Government's target of one million Welsh speakers.
4. Regrets the decision of Qualifications Wales to keep the Welsh second language qualification for an unspecified time and therefore in order to ensure that no pupil is deprived of the skills to use the Welsh language, calls on the Welsh Government to:
(a) outline a clear timetable for replacing the Welsh second language qualification with one new Welsh qualification for every pupil by 2018, which would mean examining the new qualification for the first time in 2020;
(b) adopt a strategy for targeting extra resources for teaching Welsh to trainee teachers, serving teachers, classroom assistants and other teaching practitioners; and
(c) invest substantially, and seriously plan, through a series of innovative initiatives, in order to quickly increase the number of education practitioners who teach through the medium of Welsh.
'One Language for all: Review of Welsh second language in Key Stages 3 and 4'
'Letter from the First Minister, 4 December 2015' (Welsh only)
Decisions:
The
item started at 14.53
Voting on the motion and amendments under
this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM6095 Simon Thomas (Mid and West
Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Notes that it is three years since the publication of Professor Sioned Davies's
report, that recommended the removal of 'Welsh second language' and
establishing one Welsh language learning continuum in its place.
2.
Notes that the First Minister's letter of December 2015 states his opinion that
the concept of "Welsh as a second language" creates an artificial
difference, and we are not of the view that it offers a useful basis for making
policies for the future.
3.
Notes the importance of the education system in order to reach the Welsh
Government's target of one million Welsh speakers.
4.
Regrets the decision of Qualifications Wales to keep the Welsh second language
qualification for an unspecified time and therefore in order to ensure that no
pupil is deprived of the skills to use the Welsh language, calls on the Welsh
Government to:
(a)
outline a clear timetable for replacing the Welsh second language qualification
with one new Welsh qualification for every pupil by 2018, which would mean
examining the new qualification for the first time in 2020;
(b)
adopt a strategy for targeting extra resources for teaching Welsh to trainee
teachers, serving teachers, classroom assistants and other teaching
practitioners; and
(c)
invest substantially, and seriously plan, through a series of innovative
initiatives, in order to quickly increase the number of education practitioners
who teach through the medium of Welsh.
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
22 |
1 |
24 |
47 |
The
motion without amendment was not agreed.
The following amendments were tabled:
Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of
Glamorgan):
Delete point 4 and replace with:
Notes
that:
a)
Education in Wales is being reformed, Qualifications Wales is strengthening the
Welsh Second Language GCSE as an interim measure, and from 2021 the new
curriculum will remove the distinction between Welsh and Welsh Second Language;
and
b)
The Welsh Government will publish plans and timelines for curriculum and
assessment change for Welsh in schools.
A
vote was taken on Amendment 1:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
24 |
12 |
11 |
47 |
Amendment
1 was agreed.
Amendment 2 Paul Davies (Preseli
Pembrokeshire):
Add
as new point at end of Motion:
Notes
the importance of Welsh language skills development in pre-school playgroups.
A
vote was taken on Amendment 2:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
47 |
0 |
0 |
47 |
Amendment
2 was agreed.
Amendment 3 Paul Davies (Preseli
Pembrokeshire):
Add as new point at end of Motion:
Calls upon the Welsh Government to improve Welsh
language skills development in all Flying Start settings.
A
vote was taken on Amendment 3:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
47 |
0 |
0 |
47 |
Amendment
3 was agreed.
Amendment 4 Paul Davies (Preseli
Pembrokeshire):
Add as new point at end of Motion:
'Calls upon the Welsh Government to set out its
plans for developing Welsh language skills within vocational courses and
studies undertaken in community learning settings.'
A
vote was taken on Amendment 4:
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
47 |
0 |
0 |
47 |
Amendment
4 was agreed.
A vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM6095 Simon Thomas (Mid and West
Wales)
To
propose that the National Assembly for Wales:
1.
Notes that it is three years since the publication of Professor Sioned Davies's
report, that recommended the removal of 'Welsh second language' and
establishing one Welsh language learning continuum in its place.
2.
Notes that the First Minister's letter of December 2015 states his opinion that
the concept of "Welsh as a second language" creates an artificial
difference, and we are not of the view that it offers a useful basis for making
policies for the future.
3.
Notes the importance of the education system in order to reach the Welsh
Government's target of one million Welsh speakers.
4.
Notes that:
a)
Education in Wales is being reformed, Qualifications Wales is strengthening the
Welsh Second Language GCSE as an interim measure, and from 2021 the new
curriculum will remove the distinction between Welsh and Welsh Second Language;
and
b)
The Welsh Government will publish plans and timelines for curriculum and
assessment change for Welsh in schools.
5.
Notes the importance of Welsh language skills development in pre-school
playgroups.
6.
Calls upon the Welsh Government to
improve Welsh language skills development in all Flying Start settings.
7. 'Calls upon the Welsh Government to set out its
plans for developing Welsh language skills within vocational courses and
studies undertaken in community learning settings.'
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
46 |
1 |
0 |
47 |
The
motion as amended was agreed.
Publication date: 22/09/2016
Date of decision: 21/09/2016
Decided at meeting: 21/09/2016 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd