28-10-07
Parents, pupils and friends of Ysgol Gymraeg Rhyd y Grug in the south of Merthyr Tydfil Borough have come together to form a new branch of RhAG in order to present a united front in the face of the local authority's plans for Welsh medium education in the county.
The chief purpose of the first meeting at Rhyd y Grug was to share information about the purpose of RhAG and how parents can take a central part in the planning that is taking place throughout the county currently. In the next meeting a committee will be formed and firm plans drawn up to ensure that Welsh medium education can grow in an area whose population is reducing.
There are a number of proposals by the county to breath new life into the area and these plans obviously include education. But the long delays with plans to relocate Rhyd y Grug are a matter of concern to many parents and the lack of information about when the school will be moving to a new site is having an effect on parents' decisions. RhAG hopes to concentrate on raising awareness of Welsh medium education in the area and support the work that is taking place in the schools and the community as a result of the efforts of the local "menter iaith" (language initiative).
The group's first step will be to draw up a campaign to raise awareness about Welsh medium education in the south of the county with other campaigns to follow in the future.
Ysgol Gymraeg Santes Tudful in the north of the county is moving to a new building next year and it is very likely that this new purpose-built resource will attract even more children to the school. The challenge for Merthyr RhAG, therefore, will be to foster a close relationship with the local education authority in order to produce a plan that will develop and expand Welsh medium provision in the county over the long term.
Please contact Jamie Bevan at Menter Iaith Merthyr on 01685 722176 or Elin Maher, RhAG development officer, for more information about meetings and coming campaigns.
ends
d
