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Diolch, Sam, am y cwestiwn.
Official English translation
Thank you for that question, Sam.
Contributions
59 contributions on record. Newest first, by sitting day. Page 2 of 2. Counted by Siambr
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I fully recognise that FE colleges have seen significant increases in learner numbers in recent years. And I also recognise that they're experiencing funding challenges and pressures due to these increases, and we also forecast further increases in the 2026-27 academic year. Now, Medr has already allocated an additional investment of £6.25 million in the 2026-27 financial year, and provided flexibility between funding streams to recognise increased participation numbers in tertiary education within FE. And Medr, as you would expect, is monitoring the position closely, and we will consider providing additional funding, should it be available, as part of our wider consideration of the overall Government budget position. The situation will become clearer, of course, in September, but certainly by November, when enrolment numbers are confirmed. We will decide at that time what course of action we will take as a Government.
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Well, we are keen to make sure that as many learners get the opportunity to follow their ambitions. We know, as I've mentioned already, that FE colleges are facing pressures. I did say that we will be keeping a keen eye on developments. We won't know the exact situation until September, but certainly by November. I'm in regular talks and discussions with Medr. We know the challenge coming down the line. We are preparing contingency plans as we speak. We want to support as many learners into FE colleges, into apprenticeships, and into higher education as well. It is important that we provide information to young people about the different learning pathways that are available to them, and to support them as best we can. I can't pre-empt at the moment what those pressures will be in September, but we are preparing plans for any eventualities.
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Diolch yn fawr iawn am y cwestiwn. Rydyn ni'n bwrw ymlaen i gomisiynu adolygiad eang o gyllid addysg uwch o fewn 100 diwrnod cyntaf y Llywodraeth, gyda'r nod o sicrhau fod y system yn gynaliadwy yn ariannol er budd darpar fyfyrwyr yn Afan Ogwr Rhondda a dros Gymru gyfan.
Official English translation
Thank you very much for the question. We are taking forward commissioning a broad review of high education funding within the first 100 days of Government, with the aim of ensuring that the system is financially sustainable for the benefit of prospective students in Afan Ogwr Rhondda and the country as a whole.
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Diolch. Higher education is central to Wales's social and economic future, supporting skills, research, innovation and regional growth. Our eight universities are also anchor institutions in their regions, employing thousands of people. The University of South Wales in your region employs about 2,850 people, which is a sizeable employer. We also recognise the system is under significant strain with rising costs and constrained income, which is why we believe a comprehensive review of the funding and organisation of universities in Wales is required for them to be ready to face the challenges of the next decade and beyond. But we also recognise the need to look at the sustainability of the student finance system and how it works for students, graduates and the public purse. You talked about universities broadening their offer. As you know, they are autonomous institutions and they decide alone their academic portfolios, but I know Medr has published recently an analysis of provision across our universities, and I will continue to work with them and universities to ensure they're delivering for our economy and social prosperity. You also mentioned the unions. I'm looking forward to meeting the unions in the next couple of weeks, and I will endeavour to have a close relationship with them in the spirit of social partnership. On your final point, about closing the participation gap, which is absolutely crucial, we've made it clear in our manifesto that we want to increase the numbers of Welsh-domiciled students attending higher education in Wales, particularly from more disadvantaged communities, and I'm sure both of us will support that aim.
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Thank you. You raise a really important point, and we know that graduate recruitment into businesses and into work has been challenging. We've seen a flatlining economy. We've seen SMEs in particular finding it difficult to take apprenticeships on, and also recruit graduates as well, because they face the costs, and the increased bills as well that they have to face, and national insurance increases as well. So, there have been many, many challenges around the economy in Wales and across the UK. But I am having regular conversations with the Minister for enterprise because I do believe that skills and apprenticeships, tertiary education, play an important role in upskilling our young people, fulfilling their ambitions and making them better placed for the place of work. So, what we need to do is to improve economic growth in Wales so that we can not only offer opportunities here in Wales, but also track those who've left Wales, who want to return to Wales to seek employment here.
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Diolch am y cwestiwn.
Official English translation
Thank you for the question.
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Through Medr, we are strengthening apprenticeship delivery, with changes from August 2027 to improve flexibility, respond to employer demand and widen access, helping to create more opportunities across Wales. This is supported by a national skills audit and future skills summit to inform future priorities and ensure provision reflects employer needs.
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Welsh Government is currently investing £151 million in apprenticeships in the current financial year to support delivery across Wales, because we believe that apprenticeships are a cornerstone of Wales's post-16 skills system and a key policy, as you mentioned, for economic growth, fair work and productivity. They provide high-quality routes into employment, supporting people of all ages and helping employers develop the workforce they need. However—and this relates to the point you make—we need to adapt the current apprenticeship offer to reflect changing economic needs, and the needs of businesses in particular, which means that a new apprenticeship programme from August 2027 will deliver a more flexible and responsive model for employers and delivery partners, shaped by extensive engagement, led by Medr. Now, this reform should be seen as part of a wider drive to create clearer pathways, improve parity of esteem with academic routes and strengthen alignment between skills and economic growth. Alongside this, we are undertaking a national skills audit, which will ensure that our approach is grounded in robust evidence of workplace needs so that we can tailor our apprenticeships delivery to the growth sectors of the future. We will also be organising a future skills summit in the autumn, and this relates to the Member's question earlier on, about bringing employers and partners together to help shape future delivery and identify the opportunities for early action. And I will be saying more about the way that reform is going to take form and also the skills audit and the skills summit in an oral statement in the next couple of weeks.
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We are committed to apprenticeships. As I mentioned earlier on, £151 million is already invested in programmes to support young people into work and into apprenticeships and FE as well. Now, it is worrying—you mentioned NEETs—that we have about 13.7 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds in Wales currently NEET, and I welcomed the publication of the Alan Milburn report recently. We recognise the growing risk of young people becoming disengaged from education, employment or training, alongside the pressures facing further education providers. So, this is something I'm taking seriously, something I'm passionate about. And when Natasha and I and others were members of the Children, Young People and Education Committee, we looked at post-16 pathways, and one of the important points that came out of that inquiry that we did was that we need to get messages in earlier to young people about the different options available to them. Apprenticeships are one; FE and HE as well. So, in the round, we are looking at all of this. It's still early days and, obviously, I will be having talks with the Minister for finance to see what else we can invest in the system so that we support our young people better moving forward.
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Thank you for the question. I'm a big fan of junior apprenticeships. When I was education spokesperson in opposition, I fully supported the last Government's initiative around junior apprenticeships, and I'd like to see junior apprenticeships rolled out across the whole of Wales. It started as a pilot and then it moved on to other colleges, but I think it should be a universal provision. It targets the 14 to 16 age group, which is the most vulnerable, and we know that many of them are at risk of disengagement. So, by offering them opportunities to have some work experience plus mentoring and support from FE colleges and schools, we can potentially take them from the brink of becoming NEET to becoming learners that are well supported and motivated, so that we can ensure that they realise their potential. Because every young person has the potential to become something far more important than some of their own cultural and social backgrounds have led them to believe. We must invest in them to make sure that they do achieve those ambitions, and junior apprenticeships are certainly one way forward to doing that.
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Rhun ap Iorwerth.
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