Ministry of Defence Spends Millions on Private Schools to Bypass Welsh Language Teaching
The Ministry of Defence allocates approximately one million pounds annually to place children to private educational institutions in north Wales because "state schools provide various classes in the Welsh tongue".
It paid over one million pounds in educational stipend in north Wales for eighty-three students of service personnel in the current academic year, and nearly one million pounds for 79 children in the previous year under a established practice.
A spokesperson stated "service children can face regular relocations" and the allowance "seeks to reduce disruption to their schooling".
The Welsh party described it as a "complete waste of money" and "an insult to our tongue" while the Tory party said families should be able to select the language in which their children are educated.
The figures were obtained following a request under the public records law.
The online portal of the military installation on the island tells its personnel, "for those residing and working in north Wales, where state schools teach some or all classes in the Welsh tongue, you can opt to enroll your kids to an English-language private institution".
"Provided you are accompanied by your household at your duty station, you can utilize this allowance to pay for the cost of school charges, educational excursions/residential learning programs and daily transport."
A defense ministry representative told, "the aim of Day School Allowance in North Wales (DSA-NW) is to support service families posted to the region, where Welsh is the primary medium of local state education".
"As mobility is a part of military career, service children can encounter regular transfers and from DSA-NW seeks to minimize disruption to their education."
"The MoD supports the contributions service personnel, and their families make, and from DSA-NW assists with the costs of private education provided in the English language."
'In Areas With Bilingual or Non-English Instruction'
The allowance covers school costs up to a maximum of £22,755 a year, seven thousand five hundred eighty-five pounds each semester, and is accessible to personnel living in the counties of the county, the area, the locality, the island or the district and working in one of the following establishments:
- The military base, Anglesey
- Joint Services Mountain Training Centre, the island
- Joint Services Mountain Training Wing, Llanrwst
- The university military training program (UOTC), Bangor detachment, Caernarfon
The eligible private schools are Treffos school, Llansadwrn, the island; Rydal Penrhos Prep school in Colwyn Bay; St Gerard's school, Bangor and St David's institution, the town.
The applicable military policy document states that "payment of the stipend is restricted to those regions where instruction in the public system is on a bilingual or non-English foundation".
People stationed elsewhere in the multiple services of the military - the ground forces, the naval service and the air service - can claim a educational continuity benefit which helps with boarding and/or school charges up to a cap, with a minimum parental contribution of 10% for each qualifying student.
Tory Senedd member the politician said "members of the British armed forces move around the nation and the world, and the ministry have always tried to ensure that their children have availability to continuity in education".
"While we fully support Welsh-medium education throughout the country, it's crucial to recognize there are dual recognized tongues in our country, the English tongue and Welsh, and local councils and education authorities should accommodate each."
"Parents should always have the choice to decide the language in which their kids are taught."
Plaid Cymru's education spokesperson the assembly member stated "not only is this a total misuse of money, it is an insult to our language".
"I cannot think of any valid reason to be spending these funds every year, on blocking youth living in the country from having the opportunity to acquire the Welsh tongue."
"Bilingualism enhances life and aids the development of young people, but the British administration is clearly blind to this."
"This money is a perfect example of the approach of the UK political groups towards the nation and the Welsh language - namely unawareness and disrespect."
