'Bastion' of the Welsh language.

I felt obliged to write about the article in the Education Supplement last week (November 18) which referred to allegations made by Rhieni Dros Addysg Gymraeg (RhAG) concerning Welsh-medium education in Ceredigion. I am glad that the article's misleading headline was not typical of the whole piece, since the article itself articulated the factual evidence - reflecting the true extent of Ceredigion's Welsh-medium provision - extremely well.

Ceredigion is one of the bastions of the Welsh language and of Welsh identity, and we must make no mistake about that. We in the county are proud of our heritage and particularly so in terms of education. Our children and young people's achievements are consistently the best (or among the best) in Wales, and we have often led in terms of supporting the Welsh language, its use as a medium of learning and its promotion within our communities. This has been achieved over the last two decades or so in the face of increasing migration into Ceredigion (Ceredigion's population increased at a higher percentage rate than any other area in Wales between 1991 and 2001) and outward migration of our young people to other parts of Wales, but especially the South Wales East of the country. The country's achievements in this respect were acknowledged in 1999 in a report issued by Bwrdd yr Iaith (the Welsh Language Board), which stated that in fact the education system enables pupils to cross the divide from being monoglot. English speakers to being wholly bilingual. It is acknowledged generally that Ceredigion succeeds in assimilating children through its schools so that they become active citizens able to communicate through the medium of the language and contributing to its culture.

I would emphasise that comparing Pontypridd and Aberystwyth is not - as was stated in the article itself - comparing like with like. Official statistics show that Welsh-medium education is a strong feature of Ceredigion: 70% of primary school pupils are taught wholly or mainly through the medium of Welsh, with 66 primary schools out of 76 being classified as Category A schools (where Welsh is the main medium of learning). Such schools - many of them small but community centred - have been nurtured and protected, prioritised and given wholehearted support by Ceredigion County Council.

There are only six Category B schools (where English is the main medium of learning) in the whole county. There is only one secondary school designed as English medium in the county. There are two designated Welsh-medium secondary schools and the other four are defined as Traditional Bilingual Schools. This means that all secondary schools apart from one teach at least half the foundation subjects through the medium of Welsh. Much of this was achieved in the mid and late nineties, and it is still developing. I can only repeat pertinent facts quoted by the Welsh Assembly Government in your article, '50% of secondary pupils in Ceredigion are taught Welsh as a first language, whereas in Rhondda Cynon Taf, the percentage is 19.6%.'

Undoubtedly, all policies need to be carefully monitored and reviewed, and this does not exclude the LEA's Welsh Language Policy. In fact, it is reported upon regularly and as a matter of course will be looked at anew over the next few months to see where the strengths lie and to focus upon any areas, which need to be developed, but with the premise that any development needs to be achieved in a climate of co-operation rather than confrontation.

T GARETH JONES

Director of Education and Community Services