Meetings

NDM6095 - Plaid Cymru Debate

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Meeting: 21/09/2016 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd (Item 7)

Plaid Cymru Debate

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.

 

Supporting Documents

'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)

 

The following amendments have been 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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.'

 

Minutes:

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.