Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood has raised the dire shortage of Welsh medium education places in Rhondda Cynon Taf and called for the Education Minister to intervene.
The AM for South Wales Central has been contacted by concerned parents who have been unable to get their children into Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llantrisant and Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwyncelyn in Porth.
Some parents have claimed they have been told to consider English medium education instead by the Labour-led local authority. Ms Wood has arranged to meet with concerned parents in the next week to discuss what actions to take next.
During a plenary session at the Welsh Assembly this week, Ms Wood said: “In the last few weeks, my office has been contacted by parents who have been unable to get their children into local Welsh-medium schools due to oversubscription.
“The schools in question are Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llwyncelyn and Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Llantrisant, both of which are in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
“I know that time is limited this week, but will you agree to meet me to discuss the details of this problem? Will you approach the local authority to find a solution, to ensure that the demand for Welsh-medium education in Rhondda Cynon Taf can be met?
“Do you share my concerns about reports that parents are being told to apply for an English-medium place, after being told that the school of their choice is full?
“Are you satisfied that this situation does not run counter to the Welsh-medium education strategy that you unveiled earlier this year, and, if it does run counter to that strategy, what can you do about it?
“Finally, do you have any powers at your disposal to intervene, to ensure that this shortage of places within the Welsh-medium education sector is resolved, and, if you have those powers, would you be prepared to use them on this occasion”
In response, Mr Andrews conceded his position is that he would be prepared to legislate against local authorities to ensure they properly access parental demand for places in Welsh medium education.
