During a visit to Gower College Swansea, Member of the Senedd, Tom Giffard, had the opportunity to meet learners at the Gorseinon campus who are benefitting from bilingual provision supported by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.
The provision is in Childcare, Health and Social Care, Creative Industries, Construction, Sport, Business, Horticulture and Public Services.
During the visit Tom Giffard MS met 17 year old Leri Watkins from Llanelli who is studying a part of her Childcare Level 3 course through the medium of Welsh at Gower College Swansea.
She said, "Being able to speak Welsh in the college is important to me as it is my first language and using it will benefit me in my future career in Childcare. I have made friends that are Welsh speakers through attending college bilingual events and as a Welsh student ambassador, which has given me opportunities in and out of the classroom to not only improve my Welsh but to help others.”
On meeting the learners, Tom Giffard MS said:
“It was great to meet with the team at Gower College Swansea to learn more about the work they do to ensure more learners use their Welsh language skills.
If we are to reach our goal of a million Welsh speakers by 2050, it’s important that all of us use and develop the Welsh language skills that we have.”
Since establishing a partnership with the Coleg Cymraeg in 2019, Gower College Swansea has made use of all staff development programmes funded by the Coleg. The Gwreiddio Scheme and Cymraeg Gwaith provide support to staff at further education colleges to use their Welsh, and to offer Welsh language resources commissioned by the Coleg.
Nikki Neale, Vice Principal of Curriculum, Quality and Learning and Teaching at Gower College Swansea, says this has had a "significant impact" on learners. She said:
"The funding and support from the Coleg Cymraeg has had a huge impact on the whole institution. Employing staff who can speak Welsh has transformed the language heard in the corridors and many staff who once did not have the confidence to use their Welsh skills in the past are using their Welsh skills more and more.
"This has of course had a significant impact on our learners who now have a greater bilingual experience in college, helping them to appreciate Welsh language and culture and giving them a sense of belonging and pride.
"This work extends beyond the classroom and college, as our learners will take their bilingual learning back to their communities and workplace."
Also in attendance was Dr Lowri Morgans, Senior Manager Further Education and Apprenticeship at the Coleg Cymraeg. Speaking about the importance of the Coleg’s work in further education and apprenticeships, she said:
"The Government has identified growth in bilingual skills across the public sector as a priority, therefore ensuring that vocational courses can be studied bilingually is vital.
"The Welsh language belongs to us all, and the Coleg Cymraeg looks forward to continuing to work with further education colleges, and the Government, to achieve our long-term vision that Welsh and bilingual provision is available to all who study and train in Wales, regardless of their Welsh language skills."
END
The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol creates training and study opportunities in Welsh by working with further education colleges, universities, apprenticeship providers and employers. We inspire and encourage everyone to use their Welsh skills.
The Coleg aims to build a Welsh and bilingual education and training system open to all and to develop bilingual workforces.