Written question WQ89050

The report from the vocational qualifications review, which I published on 11 September, presents 33 recommendations relating to the future of vocational qualifications. These cover matters such as the principles and purpose of vocational qualifications, and the range and availability of such qualifications through the medium of Welsh and bilingually.

As I have stated in my recent written statement, I welcome the report and its assessment of vocational qualifications in Wales. The report’s recommendations are addressed not only to the Welsh Government, but key organisations such as Qualifications Wales and the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research. We will aim to work strategically with those organisations, and with other stakeholders, as we develop our response. I will provide a further update to Members in due course.

There is a range of help available to support learners undertaking vocational courses in further education institutions including the Financial Contingency Fund, which provides financial support with course fees, course related costs and transport, and the Welsh Government Learning Grant where eligible full-time FE learners can be awarded up to £1500 a year.

We recognise the importance of ensuring that all students on Initial Teacher Education programmes are supported to develop and practise their Welsh language skills so that they equipped to take these into the classroom. We have recently published our refreshed Criteria for Accreditation which strengthens the requirements on ITE Partnerships in respect of the Welsh Language. We are continuing to work with stakeholders to ensure that ITE Partnerships are able to deliver the support required under the Criteria.

We are also working alongside our partners to deliver our Welsh in Education Workforce Plan commitments, supported by local authority Welsh in Education Strategic Plans. We have taken steps to increase the number of Welsh-speaking teachers, including a £5,000 incentive for those studying to become Welsh-medium secondary teachers, and a £5,000 bursary to retain teachers and maintain the workforce. We have also invested £800,000 this year to help schools develop innovative ways to solve some of their recruitment challenges.

The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol has been working with colleges and apprenticeship providers to increase Welsh-medium provision in the post-16 sector and this important work will need to continue if we are to create more opportunities for young people to learn and train through the Welsh language. This is why we are investing additional funding to support the post-16 sector. The Coleg will receive an additional £2.825m in 2023-24 to increase Welsh language capacity across FE colleges. The funding will also fund more apprenticeships in areas such as health and social care, childcare, and construction.

The new Commission for Tertiary Education and Rsearch will have specific duties in relation to the Welsh language and it will need to work effectively with colleges, the Coleg and Qualifications Wales in order to carry out its duties. I am, therefore, pleased that the Coleg has agreed to be designated to advise the Commission on matters relating to the Welsh Language and I am confident that the Commission will benefit from the Coleg’s extensive expertise and experience in supporting and developing Welsh-medium tertiary education.