Cymru: Coleg Ffederal
The creation of a Welsh medium higher education college came one step closer last week with the approval of a publication by Wales' Education Minister of a report (16th June 2009) recommending the establishment of a Coleg Ffederal Planning Board.
The establishment of a «Welsh Medium Higher Education Network – the Federal College» was one of the priorities set out in the `One Wales' agreement between Plaid and the Labour Party Welsh Government. The Coleg Ffederal is intended to ensure Welsh-medium provision in Welsh Universities.
Coleg Ffederal will be an independent legal entity with a constitution which will work through the existing Higher Education institutions to deliver Welsh Language Education. Plaid's leading campaigner on the creation of Welsh Language Education provision, Owen John Thomas, said:
«The Education Minister's support for the setting up a Federal College to promote Welsh medium higher education is an important step in revitalizing the Welsh language. This development will increasingly enable students at our universities and colleges of Further Education to pursue all or part of their studies through the medium of Welsh. The work of the Federal College will extend a process started at nursery level over sixty years ago.»
The Welsh Government also announced this week (24th June) that a new University of the Heads of the Valleys (South Wales) will be created in an area of one of the lowest skill levels in the UK. Strategy for Welsh Medium Provision in Higher Education:
(Article compiled for Celtic News by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot)
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
26/06/09
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