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Ambitious plans to almost double the number of Welsh speakers to one million by 2050 will be unveiled today. (July 11)

The 2011 census reported a drop in the number of Welsh speakers from 582,000 in 2001 to 562,000, about one in five of the population.

Traditional Welsh-speaking communities have been said to be under threat from young people moving away to find work and new housing developments attracting incomers who do not speak the language.

But there has also been a growing demand for Welsh-medium education.

‘Cymraeg 2050 – a million Welsh speakers’ acknowledges the need to grow Welsh-medium education.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “Our aim in doing so is to provide people with the skills to be able to use the language with their families, in their communities and the workplace.”

Their strategy aims to get the number of Welsh speakers to reach one million by 2050 and to increase the number of people who speak Welsh daily and can say more than a few words in the language to rise from 10-20% by the same year.

The Government will drive the changes across three themes:

1. Increasing the number of Welsh speakers by expanding Welsh-medium early years provision by 150 nursery groups over the next decade and increasing the proportion of each school year group receiving Welsh-medium education from 22% to 40% by 2050.

It also aims to transform teaching Welsh to all learners so at least 70% report by 2050 they can speak Welsh by the time they leave school.

Increase number of primary teachers who can teach in Welsh from 2,900 to 5,200 by 2050; increase the number of secondary teachers who can teach Welsh from 500 to 1,200 by 2050; and increase the number of secondary teachers who can teach in Welsh from 1,800 to 4,200 by 2050.

Reform post-16 Welsh-medium education and skills.

2. Increasing the use of Welsh by legislation and ensure Welsh Government leads by example.

3. Creating favourable conditions by developing a new regional focus to economic development. Transform the Welsh language digital use.

Develop a national programme to increase understanding of bilingualism.

The spokesman added: “Increasing the number of children going to a Welsh-medium school is not enough in isolation – they must also be given opportunities to learn and speak the language outside the school gates.”

Deliberately ambitious target

First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “Welsh is one of our treasures, and is part of what defines us as a nation – whether we speak the language or not. Reaching a million speakers is a deliberately ambitious target to achieve so that the Welsh language thrives for future generations.

“If we are to succeed, we need the whole nation to take ownership of the language.”

Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language, Alun Davies said: “Together, by renewing our energy, adapting to an ever changing landscape, we can enable the Welsh language to grow - a living language for all that unites us as a nation.”

Strengthening language legislation

Cymdeithas yr Iaith chair Heledd Gwyndaf said “revolutionary” steps were needed to achieve a million Welsh speakers by “normalising and expanding Welsh medium education on every level, and doing so on a greater scale and at a faster pace than ever before.”

She said: “We need to normalise the language in every aspect of life, by strengthening language legislation.

"We also need a revolutionary language strategy that will overturn the enormous migration of people outwards from our Welsh-speaking communities.

"Industry and jobs that are native to Wales need the support of the Welsh Government, recognising the link between work and language.”

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