Cymraeg

‘Comisiwn Iaith – nid Comisiynydd – sydd ei angen’

Published

8 years ago

November 28, 2017

Gweinidog newydd sy'n gyfrifol am ddeddfwriaeth: Eluned Morgan

MAE DYFODOL i’r Iaith wedi croesawu bwriad Llywodraeth Cymru i sefydlu Comisiwn i’r Gymraeg i gynllunio a gweithredu polisïau cyhoeddus i gefnogi’r iaith.

Gall sefydlu corff pwerus annibynnol ag iddo gyfrifoldebau eang ym maes cynllunio ieithyddol osod y llwyfan i weithredu strategaeth gynhwysfawr i adfywhau’r Gymraeg yn iaith genedlaethol.

Meddai cadeirydd Dyfodol, Heini Gruffudd, “Rydyn ni wrth ein bodd bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn awr yn bwriadu deddfu i sefydlu ‘r Comisiwn newydd hwn.

“Er ein bod yn anghytuno ynghylch rhai agweddau o’r Papur Gwyn a gyhoeddodd y gweinidog Alun Davies yn Eisteddfod Ynys Môn, mae’r Llywodraeth wedi derbyn prif drywydd ein gofynion ni. Mae’n holl bwysig nawr i garedigion yr Iaith gyd-dynnu i wneud llwyddiant o’r trefniadau newydd. Wrth i’r Bil newydd ddilyn ei gwrs drwy’r Cynulliad bydd angen pwyso er mwyn sicrhau nad yw bwriadau’r Papur Gwyn yn cael eu glastwreiddio a bod rhai gwendidau yn cael eu cywiro”

Meddai Cynog Dafis, “Bydd rhaid i’r Llywodraeth ddangos na fydd hawliau siaradwyr Cymraeg yn cael eu gwanhau drwy fod rol y Comisiynydd presennol yn cael ei chynnwys o fewn y Comisiwn newydd. Ond bydd sefydlu’r Comisiwn yn gyfle euraid i ddatblygu rhaglenni cyffrous i hybu a hyrwyddo’r Gymraeg o fewn y teulu a’r gymdeithas ac ym myd gwaith ac wrth gwrs drwy helaethu addysg Gymraeg yn ddirfawr.

“Fodd bynnag dyw bwriadau da ddim yn ddigon. Os yw nod y llywodraeth o greu miliwn o siaradwyr erbyn 2050 i’w gymryd o ddifrif, rhaid wrth adnoddau ariannol sylweddol a chael pobl gymwys ac ymroddedig yn y swyddi allweddol.

“Rydyn ni’n hynod falch bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn gydnabyddus â’r sefyllfa yng Ngwlad y Basgiaid a Chatalwnya lle y gweithredwyd polisïau cynhwysfawr i adfywhau eu hieithoedd cynhenid yn llwyddiannus.”

Fe gyflwynir a thrafodir hyn ymhellach mewn Cyfarfod Cyhoeddus yn Llanbedr Pont Steffan heno yn Festri Capel Brondeifi am 7 o’r gloch ac mae croeso cynnes i bawb.

Cadeirydd y cyfarfod yn Llanbed heno yw Ben Lake AS a ddywedodd “Rwy’n falch o gael cadeirio’r cyfarfod hwn yn nhref fy magwraeth a chlywed am y gwaith pwysig y mae Dyfodol wedi’i wneud i ddylanwadu ar bolisiau Llywodraeth Cymru”.

Mae Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg wedi croesawu llythyr gan Gymdeithas Rhyngwladol y Comisiynwyr Iaith yn galw ar Lywodraeth Cymru i beidio â diddymu Comisiynydd y Gymraeg.

Meddai Heledd Gwyndaf, Cadeirydd Cymdeithas yr Iaith: “Dyma dystiolaeth bellach i gefnogi’r ddadl dros gadw Comisiynydd y Gymraeg. Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn cynnig cael gwared ar swydd Comisiynydd y Gymraeg, a hynny heb gynnig unrhyw reswm, unrhyw resymeg nac unrhyw dystiolaeth i gefnogi hynny.

“Roedd papur gwyn y Llywodraeth wedi’i seilio ar ddim ond naw mis o waith Comisiynydd y Gymraeg ar y Safonau. Ond mae tystiolaeth glir yn dangos bod y swydd eisoes yn cael dylanwad ar hawliau pobol ar lawr gwlad. Ffolineb llwyr fyddai cael gwared â’r swydd ar ôl cymryd amser, arian ac egni i’w sefydlu, ond yn bwysicach am ei bod hi’n amlwg ei fod yn swyddogaeth sy’n cynnig gwerth clir am arian ac yn effeithiol. Adeiladu ar y swydd a’i datblygu sydd eisiau nawr, nid ei gwaredu.”

“Mae angen Bil er lles y bobl, yr iaith a’i defnydd, nid Bil er lles y biwrocratiaid fel mae’r Llywodraeth yn ei gynnig. Byddai’n well iddyn nhw beidio deddfu o’r newydd o gwbl na throi’r cloc yn ôl fel hyn a gwanhau ein hawliau. Rydym yn gwrthwynebu yn chwyrn gynlluniau presennol y Llywodraeth, ac rydyn ni’n galw ar bobl Cymru i’w gwrthwynebu hefyd.”

“Cefais i gyfarfod gyda dau o arweinwyr Cymdeithas yr Iaith wythnos hon, ac ry’n ni’n bendant yn anghytuno ar le mae’r pwyslais,” ychwanegodd Heini Gruffudd.

“Maen nhw fel pe bai’n nhw’n rhoi’r pwyslais i gyd ar Gomisiynydd, dw i’n ofni bod rhoi pwyslais ar hawliau unigol ond yn mynd i effeithio ar ganran fach iawn o’r boblogaeth.

“Mae angen rhywbeth llawer iawn mwy eang na hynny. Dydyn ni ddim yn erbyn Comisiynydd, dw i’n deall bod Comisiynwyr Ewrop eisiau cadw Comisiynydd yng Nghymru, popeth yn dda.

“Ond beth sydd ddim yng Nghymru yw’r math o gynllunio iaith ar lefel drylwyr iawn, traws-lywodraeth sydd wedi bod yn digwydd gyda’r Basgiaid a Chatalwnia.

“Dw i ddim yn gweld bod eisiau mynd am un neu’r llall, buaswn i’n dweud bod y maes y byddai’r Comisiwn yn delio gyda fe yn llawer ehangach na’r hyn sy’n cael ei ddelio ‘da fe o dan hawliau.

“Os ydych chi’n edrych ar Wlad y Basg, y peth cyntaf wnaethon nhw oedd hyfforddi 7,000 o weision sifil ac athrawon. Buddsoddi mawr ar raddfa eang er mwyn Basgeiddio’r system addysg a’r llywodraeth. Dyw’r system Comisiynydd ddim yn mynd i gyflawni hynny.”

Fydd neb yn synnu ar Cymdeithas a Dyfodol cael ei wrthwynebu. Mae’n ymddangos, fodd bynnag, bod barn Dyfodol i’r Iaith yw heb gymorth gan sefydliadau eraill.

Mae clwstwr o fudiadau iaith Cymru wedi beirniadu Papur Gwyn Llywodraeth Cymru gan ddweud ei fod yn tynnu sylw oddi wrth yr ymdrechion i greu miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg erbyn 2050.

Mi gafodd y Papur Gwyn ei lansio ar faes prifwyl Môn eleni ac un o’i brif argymhellion yw sefydlu Comisiwn y Gymraeg a fyddai’n disodli rôl Comisiynydd y Gymraeg, Meri Huws.

Ond yn ôl y mudiadau sy’n gweithredu o dan yr enw ‘Dathlu’r Gymraeg’ does dim tystiolaeth i gyfiawnhau diddymu rôl y Comisiynydd.

Am hynny maen nhw’n galw am “bwyllo ac oedi” cyn cyflwyno cynlluniau’r papur gwyn.

Mae’r mudiadau sydd wedi arwyddo’r llythyr agored yn cynnwys Mentrau Iaith Cymru, undeb athrawon UCAC, Cymdeithas yr Iaith, Rhieni dros Addysg Gymraeg a’r Mudiad Meithrin.

Mae’r llythyr yn cydnabod yr angen am “reoleiddiwr annibynnol a grymus” i wella hawliau i’r Gymraeg.

Ond maen nhw’n nodi y gall y Papur Gwyn “ddargyfeirio ymdrechion y Llywodraeth o’r gwaith pwysig o weithredu Strategaeth y Gymraeg, sydd wedi ennyn cefnogaeth o bob cwr o Gymru.”

“Credwn felly y byddai mantais pwyllo ac oedi cyn cyflwyno newidiadau mor bellgyrhaeddol â’r rhai sydd yn y papur gwyn,” meddai’r llythyr.

Cymraeg

National Eisteddfod unveils legacy framework to boost Welsh language and communities

Published

2 days ago

March 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEW national framework aimed at securing a lasting legacy from the National Eisteddfod has been published jointly by the festival’s organisers and the Welsh Government.

The plan sets out how the Eisteddfod’s impact will be strengthened before, during and after each annual event, bringing together partners from across education, community development, culture, the economy and the Welsh language sector.

While each Eisteddfod reflects the identity of its host community, the framework aims to ensure long-term benefits are consistently delivered nationwide, rather than limited to the festival period.

The legacy programme will cover a wide range of areas including education, inclusion, digital innovation, volunteering and economic development, with new national and local structures designed to coordinate delivery more effectively.

A national project board will oversee the strategy, setting direction and sharing best practice year-on-year. At a local level, a steering group will drive community-based work, helping turn the Eisteddfod into a catalyst for lasting change.

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Welsh Language, Mark Drakeford said the festival’s impact goes far beyond a single week.

“The Eisteddfod is far more than a week-long festival. It is a multi-year project that leaves a lasting legacy for the Welsh language and culture in the area,” he said.

“By bringing together partners from across key sectors, this framework will help deliver real and lasting change for our communities and support our ambition of reaching a million Welsh speakers by 2050.”

Nic Parry, President of the Eisteddfod Court and Chair of its Management Board, said the framework strengthens collaboration at both local and national level.

“It allows us to deliver on a long-held ambition to drive language planning through the lens of the National Eisteddfod,” he said.

“It also positions the Eisteddfod as a powerful tool for boosting local economies and supporting sustainable communities for future generations.”

Further details are expected later this year, with membership of the national project board due to be confirmed by mid-June.

A dedicated session at this year’s Eisteddfod will also gather evidence from the 2026 host area to help shape future plans for 2027 and 2028.

More information is available via the Eisteddfod’s legacy framework online.

Cymraeg

Pembrokeshire tutors part of Welsh learning boom as numbers hit record high

Published

2 days ago

March 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Local success stories highlight surge as more than 20,000 people learn Welsh across Wales

A PEMBROKESHIRE-BASED Welsh tutor who once learned the language as an adult is now helping others follow in his footsteps — as new figures reveal a record number of people learning Welsh across Wales.

David Thomas, who teaches with Learn Welsh Pembrokeshire, began learning the language in 2016 after returning to Wales from London. He went on to win Welsh Learner of the Year at the AmGen Eisteddfod in 2021 and now teaches beginner courses locally.

*Welsh teacher* ***David Thomas (Pic: Huw John)***

He is joined by fellow tutor Gwilym Morgan, a Cardiff University student who teaches online courses while running his own business.

Their journeys come as new data shows that 20,445 people completed Welsh courses in 2024–2025 — the highest number ever recorded.

Figures released on Monday (Mar 17) by the National Centre for Learning Welsh show a 12% rise on the previous year, and a 61% increase since records began in 2017–2018.

The growth is being driven in part by flexible learning options and targeted programmes, including a major expansion in workplace training.

Nearly four in ten learners (39%) are now learning Welsh through their jobs — a total of 8,370 people — particularly in sectors such as health, social care and education.

Education watchdog Estyn has described the Centre as “one of the cornerstones of linguistic planning initiatives in the workplace.”

There has also been a sharp rise in younger learners. In 2024–2025, 4,110 people aged sixteen to twenty-four took part — a 56% increase on the previous year and a 483% rise since 2018–2019.

Overall, 17,350 learners were aged between sixteen and sixty-four.

Learners are also engaging more deeply, completing 34,960 learning activities over the year — up 12% on 2023–2024.

Dona Lewis, Chief Executive of the National Centre for Learning Welsh, said: “We’re delighted with these latest figures, which show consistent, steady growth in the number of people learning Welsh.

“The figures reflect the Centre’s strategic planning and the way it uses its expertise to reach new audiences — particularly in workplaces — supporting our aim of creating more Welsh speakers.”

Speaking about his own journey, David said learning Welsh had been life-changing.

“As someone who learned Welsh as an adult, I see it as a gateway to the whole culture of Wales,” he said.

“I know what it feels like to be in the classroom, so being able to introduce others to the language — and hopefully give them a positive experience — is really special.”

The National Centre for Learning Welsh leads the adult Welsh learning sector, working with providers across Wales to deliver courses ranging from beginner to advanced level, both in person and online.

Cymraeg

Reform plan to scrap Welsh language target sparks criticism from campaigners

Published

2 weeks ago

March 8, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Language activists warn proposal could undermine long-term support for Welsh

CAMPAIGNERS have warned that proposals by the Nigel Farage-led Reform UK to scrap Wales’ target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050 could place the language at risk.

The comments came during the launch of Reform’s Welsh manifesto in Newport on Thursday (Mar 5), where Farage and the party’s Welsh leader Dan Thomas set out their plans for the language.

The party says it would remove what it describes as “arbitrary” targets for the number of Welsh speakers, arguing that the language is already growing naturally.

Farage told supporters that Welsh appeared to be “thriving” in parts of the country and said younger generations were increasingly learning and using the language.

He argued that Welsh culture and language should be allowed to develop organically rather than being driven by official targets or public bodies.

Questions were also raised at the event about the future of the Welsh Language Commissioner. Farage suggested there was no clear need for additional “quangos” if the language continued to grow through public interest.

However, campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith said the proposals demonstrate a misunderstanding of the current challenges facing the language.

Chairman Owain Meirion said it was wrong to describe Welsh as thriving when the proportion of speakers has fallen in recent census results.

According to campaigners, around 17.8 per cent of people in Wales currently report being able to speak Welsh, with the overall proportion declining over the past two censuses.

They warned that removing the 2050 target of one million speakers could weaken long-term support for the language and the communities where it is most widely spoken.

Campaigners also pointed out that the manifesto includes relatively few references to Welsh beyond cultural pledges.

Reform has said it would continue supporting events such as the National Eisteddfod and would press the UK Government to maintain funding for the Welsh-language broadcaster S4C.

Despite this, Cymdeithas yr Iaith warned that the wider approach set out in the manifesto could weaken existing structures designed to protect and promote the language.

Farage also used the Newport event to claim that Reform could challenge the long-standing dominance of the Welsh Labour in Welsh politics.

The party says its manifesto represents a plan for significant political change ahead of the next Welsh election.

Language campaigners, however, say the debate highlights continuing tensions over how best to protect the future of Welsh while ensuring policies reflect the realities facing communities across Wales.