The Education Workforce Council (EWC) has published its response to the Children, Young People and Education (CYPE) Committee’s consultation on the Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill.

Insights were provided both in writing, and through oral evidence presented direct to the CYPE Committee.

In its response, the independent, professional regulator supported Welsh Government’s objectives for bilingualism and its ambitious target to achieve one million Welsh speakers by 2050. However, it did acknowledge the size of this challenge in light of EWC data (direct from the Register of Education Practitioners), which indicates that the proportion of the school workforce able to teach through the medium of Welsh has remained static over the past five years.

In order to address these concerns, the EWC asks that Welsh Government conduct further analysis on potential impacts (including to educator workload), and to provide adequate financial and practical support to aid recruitment and professional learning. Without these measures, there is a risk that the Bill may overburden the system without achieving its intended outcomes.

The EWC also reinforced its commitment to supporting Welsh Government’s bilingualism objectives through its statutory role, including collecting and analysing data from the Register, accrediting and monitoring Initial Teacher Education (ITE) provision, promoting careers in Welsh education, and providing strategic advice to Welsh Government and stakeholders.

To read the consultation response in full, visit the EWC’s website.