A GROUP of parents promoting Welsh language education has called for capital investment in schools to be made a Welsh Government priority.

The Argus reported in May this year how Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw in Pontypool, Gwent’s only Welsh-medium secondary school which accepts pupils from multiple counties, is expected to reach capacity by 2016/17.

In July Newport council revealed a regional planning group is currently looking at possible sites, and a consortium of Gwent councils is in talks with the Welsh Government on how to proceed.

Lynne Davies, chairwoman of Rhieni Dros Addysg Gymraeg (RhAG) which translates as Parents for Welsh Medium Education, spoke out ahead of the launch of an awareness campaign by First Minister Carwyn Jones to raise the profile of Welsh-medium education.

Mrs Davies said today (November 18) would be an historic day which saw Welsh Government “owning the responsibility for the promotion of Welsh-medium education” in Wales “for the first time”.

She said on Thursday: “It is extremely fitting that [the] launch takes place at Ysgol Trelyn, Caerphilly, which crystallizes the current dichotomy facing Welsh-medium education today.

“The building housing the school is representative of the challenges faced today by so many schools in the Welsh-medium sector and this in a county where there has been tremendous growth in demand for Welsh-medium education over recent years.

“If we are serious about real growth in the sector, then future capital investment must be prioritised.”

A Welsh Government spokeswoman said that through the 21st century schools programme, £1.4 billion has been earmarked for investment in school buildings.

“Local authorities are required to look at all of their schools, including Welsh-medium schools, to prioritise those most in need of investment,” she said.

The School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 places a duty on local authorities to create growth rather than just cater for it, said Mrs Davies, adding that the target audience is not static.

“We must make sure that the core message of this campaign - that parents living in Wales have an alternative choice - is a truly practical and realistic option,” she said.

Earlier this year South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle called for a new Welsh-medium secondary school in Newport, even if it shares it with another authority.

The Plaid Cymru AM said parents told him there will be no Welsh-medium provision in Newport for children entering secondary education in 2016, despite its three Welsh-medium primary schools.

Will Godfrey, chief executive of Newport council, admitted it was likely that additional Welsh-medium secondary education will be required in 2016.