Language fear over schools merger

Some secondary schools in Dinefwr could be merged

Plans to reorganise secondary schools in a part of Carmarthenshire may limit access to Welsh medium education, it has been claimed.

Plaid Cymru has concerns over merging Pantycelyn in Llandovery with Tre-Gib in Llandeilo and Ysgol y Gwendraeth in Drefach with nearby Maes yr Yrfa.

The county's executive board has backed a report calling for the restructuring of comprehensives in the Dinefwr area.

It says it would increase the choice of courses offered to 14 to 19 year olds.

The report was drawn up after discussions between Carmarthenshire County Council and assembly government officials, local head teachers, Carmarthenshire College and the voluntary sector.

It says it would increase the number of courses taught both through Welsh and English.

A number of options for the future of the schools will be put to parents, teachers and other interested parties over the next three months.

The council wants to finalise proposals by the summer and aims to implement the changes in September 2010.

But opposition Plaid Cymru group leader Peter Hughes Griffiths said he was "disappointed" by some aspects of the report.

He said pupils in the Tywi and Amman Valleys would miss out on the chance of a full Welsh medium education.

He added: "The option is definitely missing - they should be able to offer Welsh language education there because the Welsh language is so strong."