Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language, Eluned Morgan today congratulated those learning Welsh as figures show that 12,680 people took part in the Learn Welsh programme between August 2017 and July 2018.
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
Run by the National Centre for Learning Welsh on behalf of the Welsh Government, the programme provides opportunities to learners over the age of 16 to develop their Welsh language skills. Training is delivered by a network of providers contracted to the centre.
This is the first time data collected from all learners as they registered to participate in the Learn Welsh programme has been published. It will help inform the Welsh Government about its progress towards its ambitious target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050. The Learn Welsh programme has a key role to play in supporting everyone, whatever their command of the language, to develop Welsh language skills, as well as providing opportunities for new speakers to use their Welsh language skills.
The minister said:
It’s great news that more than 12,000 people took part in the Learn Welsh programme during 2017-18. I’d like to congratulate everyone single one of those individuals, either for making a start on becoming a Welsh speaker or continuing to develop their Welsh language skills.
The language is an important part of our identity as a nation and is something that binds us all together. Just using a few words a day can help us to develop our skills further and by using the language more, we are protecting and developing it for the future. Together, we can achieve our shared target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050.
Efa Gruffudd Jones, Chief Executive of the National Centre for Learning Welsh said:
The centre is pleased to publish this national information for the first time; this is an important milestone as we plan future Learn Welsh provision. We thank the 12,680 adults across Wales who embraced learning Welsh in community classes offered by the Centre and its course providers during 2017-2018 and also their committed tutors.