MoD Spends Large Sums on Private Schools to Bypass Welsh Language Education
The MoD allocates around one million pounds each year to send children to independent educational institutions in north Wales because "public schools provide some or all lessons in the Welsh tongue".
The ministry disbursed over one million pounds in educational stipend in the northern region for eighty-three students of service personnel in 2024-2025, and £942,000 for 79 children in the previous year under a longstanding policy.
An official representative stated "service children can face frequent moves" and the allowance "seeks to reduce disruption to their education".
The Welsh party described it as a "complete waste of funds" and "an insult to our tongue" while the Conservatives said parents should be able to choose the medium in which their kids are educated.
These numbers were acquired following a inquiry under the Freedom of Information Act.
The online portal of the military installation on the island informs its workforce, "if you live and serve in northern Wales, where public schools teach various classes in the Welsh language, you may choose to send your children to an English-medium private institution".
"Provided you are accompanied by your household at your posting, you can utilize this benefit to cover the expense of tuition fees, educational excursions/residential educational courses and regular commuting."
An MoD spokesperson explained, "the purpose of the educational stipend in the northern region (the allowance) is to support service families posted to the area, where the Welsh tongue is the primary medium of local state education".
"As mobility is a part of service life, military kids can face regular transfers and from this allowance aims to lessen disruption to their education."
"The MoD acknowledges the contributions service personnel, and their families undertake, and through DSA-NW helps with the costs of private education provided in English."
'In Areas With Bilingual or Non-English Instruction'
The benefit includes school costs up to a maximum of £22,755 annually, £7,585 each semester, and is available to people living in the counties of the county, the area, Gwynedd, the island or the district and serving in one of the following establishments:
- RAF Valley, the island
- Joint Services Mountain Training Centre, Anglesey
- Joint Services Mountain Training Wing, the town
- The university military training program (the corps), Bangor unit, the city
The qualifying independent institutions are Treffos school, Llansadwrn, the island; Rydal Penrhos Prep school in the town; St Gerard's, Bangor and St David's College, Llandudno.
The applicable military policy document confirms that "payment of the stipend is limited to those areas where teaching in the public system is on a dual-language or non-English basis".
People stationed in other locations in the three branches of the military - the ground forces, the Royal Navy and the air service - can claim a educational continuity benefit which contributes towards boarding and/or school charges up to a cap, with a minimum parental contribution of ten percent for each qualifying student.
Tory assembly representative Natasha Asghar commented "personnel of the UK military relocate across the country and the world, and the ministry has always sought to guarantee that their children have access to consistency in schooling".
"While we strongly endorse Welsh-language teaching across the country, it's important to remember there are dual recognized tongues in our country, English and Welsh, and local councils and education authorities should accommodate each."
"Parents should always have the option to decide the language in which their children are instructed."
The Welsh party's education spokesperson the assembly member stated "not only is this a complete waste of money, it is a slight to our language".
"It's hard to imagine any valid reason to be allocating these funds every year, on blocking young people residing in Wales from having the opportunity to learn the Welsh language."
"Dual-language ability enhances life and supports the growth of youth, but the British administration is clearly blind to this."
"These funds is a perfect example of the approach of the UK political groups regarding Wales and the native tongue - namely unawareness and disrespect."
