The Welsh government’s target of hitting one million Welsh speakers by 2050 is in doubt, according to a new report.
A Senedd committee has said the goal will not be reached unless there is a “substantial increase” in the number of teachers who can speak the language.
The Senedd’s communication, culture, Welsh language, sport and international relations committee found there was a lack of staff to support growth in Welsh-medium schools.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
The committee’s report also noted a lack of Welsh-medium teaching in English-medium education.
Census figures released last year showed there had been a decrease in the number of people in Wales who speak Welsh since 2011.
The Welsh language commissioner, Efa Gruffudd Jones, told Sky News in February that she would “do everything” to help reach a million speakers.
There were 24,000 Welsh speakers fewer in 2021 than in 2011.
Gareth Bale celebrates his first hole-in-one on golf course in California
Union immortalises council workers in action figure form to celebrate ‘unsung heroes’
Cardiff crash: Man arrested as part of investigation into collision which killed three
The figures released in December showed 538,000 people aged three and over who live in Wales can speak Welsh, 17.8% of the country’s population.
Read more:
Technical error causes emergency alert Welsh spelling blunder
Rishi Sunak will not use Welsh name for Brecon Beacons
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Chair of the committee, Delyth Jewell, said the lack of increase in the number of Welsh speakers “should concern us deeply”.
“Welsh is a language that belongs to all of us in Wales and it should concern us deeply that the number of speakers isn’t increasing,” Ms Jewell said.
“This committee is supportive of the target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050, but that ambition is in serious jeopardy if things continue as they are.”
Speaking of the report’s findings, the chair said “more teachers should be encouraged to learn Welsh”.
“We should also recognise that the linguistic map of Wales is quite varied and that a one-size fits all approach might not always work.”
Sky News has contacted the Welsh government for comment.
