Bilingual Battle: Tories Demand Equal English and Welsh Education in Wales

In a bold initiative announced at the Tory conference in Manchester, Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar has proposed that councils in Wales, particularly in regions like Gwynedd, should be mandated to offer education in both English and Welsh. This move comes in response to Gwynedd’s plans to significantly reduce English-language education in most secondary schools, proposing that students should follow a curriculum that is 70% in Welsh. Millar expressed disappointment in Gwynedd’s leadership for not respecting parental choice regarding education language. The Conservative plan aims to alter existing laws to enforce this bilingual education framework.

At the conference, Millar also criticized the WJEC, Wales’ leading examination board, for its recent shortcomings, including the mistake of issuing incorrect GCSE results, pushing for sanctions against the body that oversees educational qualifications. He stressed the necessity for diverse qualification options to better serve students, pointing out that the current curriculum changes had not been aligned with timely educational materials, which was negatively impacting teachers and students alike.

Additionally, Shadow Welsh Secretary Mims Davies advocated for introducing free schools and academies in Wales to tackle issues of educational performance and discipline, particularly after a notable decline in student behavior and academic results post-COVID. Her proposals aim to empower headteachers with greater autonomy in managing school environments. Davies highlighted that restoring a safe learning environment is fundamental, referencing the controversial actions of a headteacher in Monmouthshire as a model for discipline management. Both leaders emphasize the need for educational reform in Wales to adapt to current challenges and protect parental choice in education.