Category Archives: Dyfodol

Eisteddfod Ynys Môn, 2017

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A warm thank you to all who came to see us for a chat, or to enjoy our presentations, talks and entertainment during the Eisteddfod in Bodedern. This Eisteddfod also marked our fifth birthday – an excellent excuse for cake and a chance to look back over our successes.

We held several talks with experts in their various fields, looking at ways and means of promoting the Welsh language. Menna Baines discussed the Welsh press and her role within Menter Iaith Bangor; Osian Roberts gave a presentation on the importance of sport as an informal means of promoting the language; Cefin Roberts celebrated its promotion through the medium of song, and Professor Enlli Thomas shared with us the findings of her research into the language and education. All the sessions were entertaining and powerful; a timely reminder of the importance of the Welsh language across a diversity of experiences and situations.

We were also joined by many exciting musicians; Gwilym Bowen Rhys, Ynyr Llwyd, Gwyneth Glyn and Twm Morys, Glain Rhys and Meinir Gwilym. Thank you to everyone – speakers and performers – for making it such an entertaining Eisteddfod on the Dyfodol stall.

Planning and the Welsh language was the theme of our main presentation this year, with Huw Prys Jones outlining his language impact assessment of the Gwynedd and Môn Local Development Plan, and Emyr Lewis in the chair. This proved to be a very successful and popular event, with many searching questions from the floor. Over the coming months, we will be building upon our commitment to this key and complex policy area, and will be informing you of the next steps in the very near future.

The Eisteddfod saw the publication of the White Paper on the Welsh Language Bill, and following the launch, we spoke to Alun Davies, the Welsh Minister, to confirm that we will be meeting with him during September to discuss our full reaction to the document. We will of course, having fully analysed the White Paper, be sharing our comments with you, and as soon as possible.

We very much hope that you enjoyed the Eisteddfod, and that you now have an opportunity to make the most of what’s left of the summer. There’s certainly enough to be getting on with over the coming months …Gwilym Bowen RhysTony ac AlomaPabell y Cymdeithasau

Eisteddfod Events 2017

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Call at our stall at the Eisteddfod in Môn this year – a full programme of talks and entertainment!

DYDD LLUN AWST 7 am hanner dydd ar y stondin: Hyrwyddo’r Gymraeg drwy’r wasg ac yn y gymuned – MENNA BAINES 3 y.p:  GWILYM BOWEN RHYS

DYDD MAWRTH AWST 8 am hanner dydd ar y stondin: Hyrwyddo’r Gymraeg drwy Chwaraeon – OSIAN ROBERTS AC IAN GWYN HUGHES 3 y.p. YNYR LLWYD

DYDD MERCHER AWST 9 am 11 y.b. yn Mhabell y Cymdeithasau 1: Cynllunio a’r Gymraeg – cyflwyniad gan HUW PRYS JONES 3 y.p: TWM MORYS A GWYNETH GLYN

DYDD IAU AWST 10 am hanner dydd ar y stondin: Hyrwyddo’r Gymraeg ar gan – CEFIN ROBERTS  3 y.p.:GLAIN RHYS

DYDD GWENER AWST 11 am hanner dydd ar y stondin: Hyrwyddo’r Gymraeg drwy awgrymiadau o du ymchwil –  yr ATHRO ENLLI THOMAS 3 y.p.: MEINIR GWILYM

 

CALL TO POSTPONE SCHOOLS’ FUNDING IN LIGHT OF THREAT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF WELSH LANGUAGE EDUCATION

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The development of Welsh language education will be halted until 2024, leaving the Welsh Government with no hope of reaching its target of having 30% of pupils in Welsh language education by 2030. This is Dyfdol i’r Iaith fear as Local Authorities present their funding applications by the end of July.

Funding applications for the development of schools should be submitted soon, with authorities presenting their applications by the end of July, for decision by the autumn. This funding is for the second round of the 21st Century Schools programme, which will allocate money for the development of schools from 2019-2024. £600 million is available from the Government, and local authorities are expected to match this sum.

Dyfodol i’r Iaith is concerned that this funding will be allocated before many of the local authorities’ Welsh Language Education Plans have been accepted by the Welsh Government. Another cause for concern is that this does not allow the local authorities time to consider the implications of the Government’s Welsh Language Strategy, which was published a week ago,

Heini Gruffudd, Dyfodol i’r Iaith’s Chair, said, “There is reason to fear that there has been a lack of co-ordination between Government departments. It seems clear to us that local authorities are making plans without their Welsh Language Plans being accepted, and, clearly, without the opportunity to consider the Government’s Welsh Language Strategy.”

“Thus, funding applications will be submitted without priority being given to Welsh language education. In the first round 21st Century Schools funding, some councils spent next to nothing on Welsh language education. This situation could recur again.”

“We call on the Government to delay the second round of the 21st Century Schools     funding process, and stress that this process be linked to the authorities’ Welsh Education Plans and the Government’s Welsh Language Scheme.”