MoD Spends Large Sums on Private Schools to Bypass Welsh Language Education
The Ministry of Defence allocates around one million pounds each year to place children to private educational institutions in north Wales because "state schools teach some or all lessons in the Welsh tongue".
The ministry disbursed over one million pounds in day school allowance in north Wales for eighty-three students of service personnel in 2024-2025, and £942,000 for seventy-nine students in the previous year under a established practice.
An official representative stated "military families' children can face regular relocations" and the allowance "aims to reduce interruption to their education".
Plaid Cymru described it as a "total misuse of funds" and "a disrespect to our tongue" while the Conservatives said families should be able to select the language in which their children are taught.
These numbers were acquired following a inquiry under the Freedom of Information Act.
The website of the military installation on Anglesey tells its personnel, "if you live and serve in northern Wales, where public schools provide some or all lessons in the Welsh language, you can opt to send your kids to an English-language independent school".
"Provided you are accompanied by your household at your duty station, you can utilize this allowance to cover the cost of school charges, educational excursions/residential educational courses and regular commuting."
A defense ministry representative explained, "the aim of Day School Allowance in the northern region (DSA-NW) is to assist military households posted to the area, where Welsh is the primary medium of public schooling".
"As mobility is a part of military career, service children can encounter frequent moves and the this allowance seeks to lessen disruption to their learning."
"The ministry acknowledges the contributions military members, and their relatives make, and through the stipend assists with the expenses of independent day schooling given in English."
'In Areas With Bilingual or Non-English Instruction'
The allowance covers tuition fees up to a limit of £22,755 a year, £7,585 per term, and is accessible to people living in the counties of Conwy, the area, the locality, the island or the district and working in these specific locations:
- RAF Valley, the island
- The combined forces alpine training facility, Anglesey
- The joint military mountain unit, the town
- Wales University Officers' Training Corps (the corps), Bangor detachment, the city
The eligible independent institutions are Treffos school, the village, Anglesey; Rydal Penrhos Prep school in the town; St Gerard's school, the city and St David's College, the town.
The applicable joint service publication confirms that "disbursement of the allowance is limited to those regions where instruction in the public system 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 air service - can claim a continuity of education allowance which helps with residential and/or school charges up to a maximum rate, with a required family share of 10% for each eligible child.
Welsh Conservative Senedd member Natasha Asghar commented "personnel of the UK military move around the nation and the globe, and the MoD has always sought to ensure that their kids have access to consistency in education".
"Although we strongly endorse Welsh-medium education across the country, it's important to remember there are two official languages in our nation, English and the Welsh language, and municipal authorities and school boards should accommodate both."
"Parents should always have the choice to decide the medium in which their children are instructed."
Plaid Cymru's education spokesperson the assembly member said "not just is this a complete waste of money, it is a slight to our language".
"I cannot think of any justifiable cause to be spending these funds annually, on blocking youth living in the country from having the chance to acquire the Welsh language."
"Dual-language ability enriches experience and aids the growth of young people, but the UK government is clearly blind to this."
"These funds is a clear illustration of the attitude of the Westminster parties towards the nation and the native tongue - namely unawareness and insults."
