Minister wants ‘Bilingual plus 1’ nation

As part of the Welsh Government’s drive to increase take up of modern foreign languages, Education Minister, Huw Lewis set out his ambition in July 2015 for Wales to become a ‘Bilingual plus 1’ nation, with the learning of an additional modern foreign language beginning at Primary school.

In June 2015 a report from the British Council and CfBT Education Trust had found that modern foreign language learning in secondary schools in Wales was 'declining rapidly'.

According to the report: 'Languages other than English and Welsh are not part of the primary curriculum in Wales, making Wales, along with Northern Ireland, the countries with the shortest period of compulsory foreign language learning in Europe'.

• Primary Source

BBC News, 03.07.15: Foreign languages can help pupils in Wales 'get ahead' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-33388356

CfBT: News, 02.06.15: Language trends Wales 2015 https://www.cfbt.com/en-GB/News-and-events/News/2015/language-trends-wales-2015

Wales: Government: About > Cabinet and Ministers > Statements > Written Statement - Global Futures – a plan to improve and promote MFL in Wales, 01.06.15 http://gov.wales/about/cabinet/cabinetstatements/2015/mlf/?lang=en

---