The Ministry of Defence allocates around one million pounds each year to place students to independent schools in northern Wales because "state schools provide various classes in the Welsh language".
The ministry disbursed over one million pounds in day school allowance in the northern region for eighty-three students of military families in the current academic year, and nearly one million pounds for 79 children in the previous year under a established policy.
A spokesperson stated "military families' children can experience frequent moves" and the allowance "aims to reduce interruption to their education".
The Welsh party called it a "complete waste of funds" and "a disrespect to our tongue" while the Conservatives argued parents should be able to select the language in which their kids are taught.
These numbers were obtained following a request under the public records law.
The online portal of RAF Valley on the island informs its personnel, "for those residing and working in north Wales, where public schools teach some or all lessons in the Welsh tongue, you can opt to enroll your children to an English-language independent school".
"Provided you are joined by your household at your posting, you can use this benefit to pay for the expense of school charges, field study trips/residential educational courses and daily transport."
An MoD spokesperson explained, "the aim of Day School Allowance in North Wales (the allowance) is to assist service families posted to the region, where Welsh is the main language of local state education".
"As mobility is a part of military career, military kids can encounter regular transfers and the DSA-NW seeks to minimize interference to their education."
"The MoD acknowledges the contributions service personnel, and their families undertake, and from the stipend helps with the costs of independent day schooling provided in English."
'In Areas With Bilingual or Non-English Instruction'
The benefit includes tuition fees up to a limit of £22,755 annually, seven thousand five hundred eighty-five pounds each semester, and is available to people residing in the counties of Conwy, Denbighshire, the locality, the island or the district and working in one of the following establishments:
- The military base, Anglesey
- The combined forces alpine training facility, Anglesey
- The joint military mountain unit, Llanrwst
- Wales University Officers' Training Corps (UOTC), Bangor detachment, the city
The eligible private schools are Treffos school, Llansadwrn, Anglesey; Rydal Penrhos preparatory institution in the town; St Gerard's school, Bangor and St David's institution, the town.
The relevant military policy document confirms that "disbursement of the allowance is restricted to those regions where teaching in the state sector is on a dual-language or non-English basis".
Personnel stationed in other locations in the multiple services of the military - the Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force - can claim a educational continuity benefit which helps with boarding and/or school charges up to a cap, with a minimum parental contribution of 10% for each qualifying student.
Tory assembly representative the politician commented "members of the UK military relocate across the country and the world, and the ministry have always sought to ensure that their kids have availability to continuity in schooling".
"While we fully support Welsh-language teaching throughout the country, it's important to remember there are dual recognized tongues in our country, the English tongue and the Welsh language, and local councils and school boards should accommodate each."
"Families should always have the choice to decide the medium in which their kids are taught."
The Welsh party's education spokesperson the assembly member stated "not only is this a complete waste of money, it is an insult to our language".
"I cannot think of any valid reason to be allocating such money every year, on preventing youth living in Wales from having the opportunity to acquire the Welsh tongue."
"Bilingualism enhances life and aids the development of young people, but the British administration is obviously blind to this."
"These funds is a perfect example of the approach of the Westminster parties towards the nation and the Welsh language - namely unawareness and insults."
