What We Can Learn From How Wales is Transforming Its Schools

On the 23rd September, Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan, who serves as the First Minister for Wales, provided the Sennedd (Welsh parliament) with an update on the progress of the Twenty-First Century Schools programme. She said:

“The Welsh Labour Government has transformed schools across Wales, with £3.7 billion invested and 330 projects built … We're rolling out 329 more projects, worth over £5.54 billion—net-zero schools, community schools and schools built for the future.”

Mick Antoniw MS affirmed the “tremendous” impact that the programme has had on the morale of students studying in these schools. He pointed out that there is no other programme in the United Kingdom such as this, and that in particular there is nothing like it in England.

Baroness Eluned Morgan agreed that the program is a “long-term, serious commitment,” which is particularly important in light of the RAAC crisis which shut down so many schools in England. 

The Twenty-First Century Schools programme was announced in 2009, almost 15 years before the RAAC crisis, with the aim to reduce recurrent costs, energy consumption and carbon emissions whilst simultaneously improving learning environments for children and young people. In England, a similar programme would be able to significantly improve the prospects for young people’s education and make sure schools are safe and meeting net-zero targets. It’s crucial that England learns from the example set by Wales and other nations, and puts significant work into retrofitting schools to fit 21st century standards.

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Ar 23 Medi, rhoddodd y Farwnes Mair Eluned Morgan, sy’n gwasanaethu fel Prif Weinidog Cymru, ddiweddariad i’r Senedd ar gynnydd rhaglen Ysgolion yr Unfed Ganrif ar Hugain. Dywedodd hi:

“Mae Llywodraeth Lafur Cymru wedi trawsnewid ysgolion ledled Cymru, gyda £3.7 biliwn wedi’i fuddsoddi a 330 o brosiectau wedi’u cwblhau … Rydym yn cyflwyno 329 o brosiectau pellach, gwerth dros £5.54 biliwn—ysgolion sero net, ysgolion cymunedol ac ysgolion wedi’u hadeiladu ar gyfer y dyfodol.”

Cadarnhaodd Mick Antoniw AS yr effaith “aruthrol” y mae’r rhaglen wedi’i chael ar forâl disgyblion sy’n astudio yn yr ysgolion hyn. Tynnodd sylw at y ffaith nad oes rhaglen arall tebyg yn y Deyrnas Unedig, ac yn benodol nad oes dim byd tebyg iddi yn Lloegr.

Cytunodd y Farwnes Eluned Morgan fod y rhaglen yn “ymrwymiad hirdymor a difrifol”, sy’n arbennig o bwysig yng ngoleuni’r argyfwng RAAC a arweiniodd at gau cymaint o ysgolion yn Lloegr.

Cyhoeddwyd rhaglen Ysgolion yr Unfed Ganrif ar Hugain yn 2009, bron i pymtheg mlynedd cyn argyfwng RAAC, gyda’r nod o leihau costau rhedeg, defnydd ynni ac allyriadau carbon, tra’n gwella amgylcheddau dysgu i blant a phobl ifanc ar yr un pryd. Yn Lloegr, gallai rhaglen debyg wella rhagolygon addysg pobl ifanc yn sylweddol a sicrhau bod ysgolion yn ddiogel ac yn cydymffurfio â thargedau sero net. Mae’n hollbwysig bod Lloegr yn dysgu o’r esiampl a osodwyd gan Gymru, ac yn cymryd camau sylweddol i ailsefydlu ysgolion i gyd-fynd â safonau’r 21ain ganrif.