More teaching through Welsh plea

RhAG claims there is a shortage of Welsh medium education

A parents' group has called on assembly election candidates to pledge that half of schools will teach in Welsh.

Parents for Welsh Education (RhAG) says about half of parents can see bilingualism advantages for children.

The call came after the leaders of the four main parties went head-to-head for the first time in a BBC TV debate at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay on Sunday.

With polling day on Thursday, the leaders clashed on health and the likelihood of a coalition government.

RhAG claimed that plans for more Welsh medium-schools were being slowed down by planning processes.

All four main parties have acknowledged the need for more Welsh-medium education.

Currently, 23% of children attend Welsh medium schools.

RhAG chairman Heini Gruffudd said parents in Wales were anxious for their children to become bilingual.

It is time for the next Welsh Assembly Government to establish clear targets for the growth of Welsh medium schools across Wales Heini Gruffudd, RhAG

He added: "Unfortunately, plans to establish more Welsh medium schools are being slowed down because of the planning processes involved.

"We in RhAG welcome the fact that Welsh is not being treated as a political football by the parties in Wales.

"If only this were the case with Welsh-medium schools.

"It is time for the next Welsh Assembly Government to establish clear targets for the growth of Welsh-medium schools across Wales."

Strategy

Labour said it was up to local authorities to respond positively to the increased call for more Welsh-medium education.

Plaid Cymru said it would establish the right for parents to choose a Welsh-medium education for their children, and it would create a national strategy.

The Conservatives pledged to answer the call for more Welsh education, and also spoke of a need to create a strategy in the sectors of higher and further education.

The Lib Dems said they were looking at creating an easier process to establish Welsh medium schools and make it a duty for local authorities to assess the need for Welsh language education.

Meanwhile, there were numerous clashes between Welsh Labour leader Rhodri Morgan and the three other leaders on health in particular in Sunday night's BBC 1 Wales debate, says BBC Wales political correspondent Guto Thomas.

"It was a clear sign that the importance of this area of policy remains as important and unresolved now as at the start of the campaign.

"The colour and make-up of any coalition in government also provoked the leaders to trade political insults.

"It reflected the fact that with three full days of campaigning to go before the polling stations open their doors, this is the most open-ended and unpredictable election in the short history of devolution."