Plaid Cymru’s Rhondda candidate for the Welsh election in May has used her conference speech to outline how improving skills and standards are essential to giving people in the valleys the best possible chance to gain and retain employment.
Sera Evans-Fear, who is a councillor for the Treorci ward, said that a decade of failure from Labour on education has deprived a generation of the right support.
Ms Evans-Fear, who works in the higher education sector, says in putting education and training at the heart of its priorities for a future Welsh government, Plaid Cymru aims to ensure the people of the Rhondda have the ambitious leadership they need to develop a stronger economy.
She said: “Labour’s legacy on education is shameful. They have been in charge of education in Wales for over a decade yet international studies have shown our system is failing. It is something that Labour has failed to get to grips with and, unfortunately, children in the Rhondda have suffered as a result.
“If we want our future generations to find meaningful and long lasting employment, we have to give them the best start in life. Education is the cornerstone of ensuring a strong and vibrant economy.
“I am delighted that Plaid Cymru has put education at the heart of our plans for the next Welsh government. Our ambitious plans to all but eradicate illiteracy and innumeracy amongst school children will give people the basic skills they need to enter the jobs market.”
She added: “We must also recognise that, as well as school children, there is also the need to train and skill our adult workforce. We need to ensure people can get training and qualifications to gain and maintain employment.
“Many people would greatly benefit from additional support to help them back into work. That is why I am delighted that Ieuan Wyn Jones AM has announced Plaid Cymru’s commitment to 30,000 apprenticeships. It is something that will give people the chance to equip themselves with new skills.
“Plaid Cymru is putting forward an ambitious plan for our education system, for schools and for work-based training. More of Labour’s failure is simply not an option.”
