Plaid defends WJEC probe call

The WJEC oversees examinations in Wales

Plaid Cymru has denied that it is raising needless doubts about the future of the Welsh examinations body, the WJEC.

The party has called on the Assembly to enquire into the legal and financial footing of the body.

But the Education Minister Jane Davidson said that those problems had been solved.

Gareth Jones AM: "No guarantees"

The last few years have been turbulent for the Welsh Exams body. Doubts have been cast on its financial viability as well as its legal standing.

On Thursday, Plaid Cymru education spokesman Gareth Jones called for the air to be cleared regarding the legality of the WJEC as a body.

"We need a distinct Welsh examinations body as we develop a distinct Welsh education system," he said.

"The WJEC ensures Welsh-medium qualifications and there are no guarantees that other examining bodies would choose to provide this service were the WJEC to disappear.

"The Assembly has no direct functions over the WJEC but it clearly has a responsibility to secure its continued existence," he added.

Business 'sound'

He also warned that the Assembly would have to shoulder a heavy responsibility if there were a downturn in the WJEC's finances.

Education Minister Jane Davidson tried to quash those doubts. She said that the WJEC's finances were secure and that any legal problems had been solved.

The WJEC echoed the claim that finances were back on an even keel.

Examinations Secretary Brian Evans said that the core business was sound and that any comment should be based on solid fact rather than on rumour.