Ministry of Defence Spends Large Sums on Independent Schools to Avoid Welsh Language Teaching

The Ministry of Defence allocates approximately one million pounds each year to place students to private educational institutions in north Wales because "public schools provide some or all lessons in the Welsh language".

The ministry disbursed £1,019,000 in educational stipend in north Wales for eighty-three students of service personnel in the current academic year, and nearly one million pounds for 79 children in 2023-2024 under a longstanding policy.

A spokesperson said "military families' children can experience frequent moves" and the allowance "seeks to reduce interruption to their education".

The Welsh party called it a "complete waste of funds" and "a disrespect to our tongue" while the Conservatives said families should be able to select the medium in which their children are educated.

These numbers were acquired following a inquiry under the public records law.

The online portal of the military installation on the island informs its personnel, "for those residing and working in north Wales, where public schools teach some or all lessons in the Welsh tongue, you may choose to send your children to an English-medium independent school".

"Provided you are accompanied by your family at your duty station, you can utilize this benefit to cover the expense of school charges, educational excursions/residential educational courses and daily transport."

A defense ministry representative explained, "the purpose of the educational stipend in the northern region (DSA-NW) is to support military households posted to the region, where the Welsh tongue is the primary medium of public schooling".

"Since relocation is a part of service life, service children can face regular transfers and the this allowance aims to lessen interference to their education."

"The MoD supports the contributions service personnel, and their families undertake, and from DSA-NW helps with the expenses of private education provided in the English language."

'Where teaching is bilingual or non-English'

The benefit covers tuition fees up to a maximum of £22,755 annually, £7,585 each semester, and is available to people residing in the regions of Conwy, the area, Gwynedd, the island or Flintshire and serving in one of the following establishments:

• The military base, the island
• Joint Services Mountain Training Centre, the island
• The joint military mountain unit, the town
• The university military training program (UOTC), Bangor detachment, the city

The qualifying independent institutions are Treffos institution, Llansadwrn, the island; Rydal Penrhos preparatory institution in Colwyn Bay; St Gerard's, the city and St David's College, Llandudno.

The relevant military policy document confirms that "disbursement of the allowance is limited to those regions where instruction in the state sector is on a dual-language or non-English foundation".

Personnel stationed elsewhere in the three branches of the armed forces - the ground forces, the naval service and the Royal Air Force - can claim a continuity of education allowance which contributes towards boarding and/or tuition fees up to a maximum rate, with a required family share of 10% for each qualifying student.

Welsh Conservative Senedd member the politician commented "personnel of the British armed forces move around the nation and the globe, and the ministry has always sought to ensure that their kids have access to continuity in education".

"Although we strongly endorse Welsh-medium education throughout the country, it's important to recognize there are two official languages in our nation, English and Welsh, and local councils and school boards should accommodate each."

"Families should always have the option to decide the medium in which their children are instructed."

The Welsh party's education spokesperson Cefin Campbell MS said "not only is this a total misuse of money, it is an insult to our language".

"It's hard to imagine any justifiable cause to be allocating these funds annually, on blocking young people residing in the country from having the chance to learn the Welsh language."

"Dual-language ability enhances experience and aids the development of youth, but the UK government is clearly blind to this."

"These funds is a clear illustration of the approach of the UK political groups towards Wales and the Welsh language - namely ignorance and disrespect."