The First Minister has today launched an ambitious Programme for Government - a plan to build a stronger, greener, fairer Wales for everyone. ColegauCymru welcomes the clear general commitment to deliver for the education sector over the next 5 years, but looks forward to further detail on some areas of post-16 provision and planning.
ColegauCymru Chief Executive Iestyn Davies said,
“We welcome the new Programme’s support for schools and teachers to deliver a world-leading Curriculum for Wales which naturally needs to be a key priority for the new Education Minister, ahead of the Curriculum going live in September 2022.”
Noting the commitment to introduce a Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill, Mr Davies added,
“Post-compulsory education and training is critical to improving lives and well-being, and is essential to individual and national prosperity so it is important that new legislation is properly considered in light of the changes brought about by Covid19.
It is now vital that all relevant PCET stakeholders work together as a sector to ensure a successful Tertiary Education and Research (Wales) Bill which is fit for the future. ColegauCymru is committed to support Welsh Government to achieve a workable solution.
We have five years to get this legislation right, rather than repenting at leisure.”
ColegauCymru is encouraged by the announcement to deliver the Young Persons Guarantee, giving everyone under the age of 25 the offer of work, education, training, or self-employment, and a further pledge to review adult education to increase the numbers of adults learning in Wales is welcomed. The replacement of the valuable Erasmus+ EU Programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe with a new £65m international learning exchange programme is further welcomed.
Welsh Government’s commitment to continue the long-term programme of education reform, and to ensure educational inequalities narrow and standards rise is noted, as is their promise to create 125,000 all-age apprenticeships, with a view to supporting a prosperous economy.
ColegauCymru Director of Policy and Public Affairs Dr Rachel Bowen added,
“We are heartened to learn that some of the commitments made by Welsh Government in today’s announcement reflect a number of the ColegauCymru Policy Asks from the recent Senedd Elections. The promise to ensure that nobody in Wales is left behind after the Coronavirus pandemic, and repairing the damage done over the last year, along with a clear focus on wellbeing objectives are particularly welcomed.”
Mr Davies concluded,
“We continue to work with our member colleges with the primary goal of ensuring the best possible outcomes for all learners.”
Further Information
Welsh Government Press Release
A stronger, greener, fairer Wales for everyone
15 June 2021
Welsh Government Policy and Strategy
Programme for government 2021 to 2026
15 June 2021
Welsh Government Policy and Strategy
Programme for government 2021 to 2026: Well-being statement
15 June 2021
ColegauCymru Manifesto for the next Welsh Government
Further Success: Policy Recommendations for the next Welsh Government in Post-16 Education and Lifelong Learning for Wales
March 2021
