Primary School.
Due to continuing legislation, Welsh is now a compulsory subject in all schools in Wales, and students must study Welsh as either a first or second language from the age of 5 to the age of 16. At the primary level this can take place in a few different venues: Welsh-medium schools, bilingual schools, and English-medium schools. The presence of each type of educational body varies widely according to location, as the system must be tailored to fit each respective linguistic community's needs. For example, more attention is given to Welsh-medium primary education in the Welsh-speaking "heartland" of Northwest Wales, as well as in Southwest Wales, which also contains a large amount of concerned Welsh-speaking parents.
Even in more heavily anglicized areas, such as Powys, the national curriculum now requires English-medium schools to teach Welsh, whether as a second language or simply another subject. This development is pleasing to groups such as Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg (Parents for Welsh Medium Education), who are quick to point out the benefits of a bilingual education for children: It can provide a developmental advantage in learning, and in the future may prove beneficial in seeking a career in Wales. However, not everyone is in favor of tilting the balance completely towards Welsh, and this is apparent in secondary education.
Secondary School.
While around a fourth to a third of primary schools in Wales are Welsh-medium or bilingual, only about a fifth of secondary schools are. Although these numbers are increasing, it is still felt in many areas that English is more appropriate for formal, higher-level education. Usually parents prefer to send their children to the closest school, regardless of its primary language; this means that there is quite a loss in transition from primary to secondary school, and many students of Welsh-medium or bilingual primary schools end up in English-speaking secondary school. Youth organizations such as Urdd Gobaith Cymru and local initiatives like the Mentrau Iaith have fortunately picked up some of the slack in providing Welsh-language-based activities and promoting the use of Welsh in the community. Also, the increasing role of Welsh-language mass media has contributed to the use of Welsh by youth.
Despite the relative lack of secondary-level Welsh-medium education, a growing number of universities and colleges offer degree courses through the Welsh language. Also worthy of examination is the extensive adult education system throughout the country. Part II will look at these options for Welsh education in more depth.
