MoD Allocates Large Sums on Independent Schools to Bypass Welsh Teaching
The MoD allocates approximately one million pounds each year to send children to independent schools in northern Wales because "public schools provide some or all lessons in the Welsh tongue".
The ministry disbursed over one million pounds in day school allowance in north Wales for 83 children of service personnel in the current academic year, and nearly one million pounds for seventy-nine students in the previous year under a longstanding policy.
A spokesperson stated "military families' children can experience frequent moves" and the stipend "seeks to minimize interruption to their education".
The Welsh party described it as a "complete waste of money" and "an insult to our tongue" while the Conservatives argued families should be able to choose the medium in which their kids are taught.
These numbers were obtained following a request under the public records law.
The website of the military installation on the island informs its workforce, "for those residing and working in north Wales, where public schools teach some or all classes in the Welsh tongue, you may choose to enroll your kids to an English-medium independent school".
"As long as you are accompanied by your family at your posting, you can use this benefit to cover the cost of school charges, educational excursions/residential educational courses and daily transport."
An MoD spokesperson explained, "the purpose of the educational stipend in the northern region (DSA-NW) is to support service families posted to the area, where the Welsh tongue is the primary medium of local state education".
"Since relocation is a aspect of military career, military kids can face regular transfers and from this allowance seeks to minimize interference to their learning."
"The ministry acknowledges the contributions military members, and their families undertake, and from the stipend helps with the costs of private education provided in English."
'Where teaching is bilingual or non-English'
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 people living in the counties of Conwy, Denbighshire, Gwynedd, the island or Flintshire and working in one of the following establishments:
- RAF Valley, Anglesey
- The combined forces alpine training facility, Anglesey
- Joint Services Mountain Training Wing, Llanrwst
- The university military training program (the corps), Bangor detachment, Caernarfon
The eligible independent institutions are Treffos school, Llansadwrn, the island; Rydal Penrhos preparatory institution in Colwyn Bay; St Gerard's school, Bangor and St David's College, the town.
The relevant military policy document confirms that "payment of the stipend is restricted to those areas where instruction in the state sector is on a bilingual or non-English foundation".
Personnel serving in other locations in the multiple services of the armed forces - the ground forces, the Royal Navy and the air service - can apply for a continuity of education allowance which contributes towards boarding and/or school charges up to a cap, with a minimum parental contribution of 10% for each eligible child.
Welsh Conservative Senedd member Natasha Asghar said "personnel of the British armed forces move around the nation and the world, and the MoD has always sought to guarantee that their children have availability to consistency in schooling".
"Although we fully support Welsh-medium education across the country, it's important to remember there are two official languages in our nation, English and Welsh, and local councils and school boards should accommodate both."
"Parents should always have the choice to decide the language in which their kids are taught."
Plaid Cymru's education spokesperson Cefin Campbell MS said "not just is this a complete waste of money, it is an insult to our language".
"It's hard to imagine any justifiable cause to be allocating these funds annually, on preventing young people living in the country from having the chance to learn the Welsh tongue."
"Dual-language ability enhances experience and supports the growth of young people, but the British administration is clearly blind to this."
"These funds is a perfect example of the attitude of the UK political groups regarding the nation and the native tongue - namely ignorance and insults."
