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The MoD allocates around £1m each year to place children to private schools in north Wales because "public schools teach various lessons in the Welsh language".

It paid over one million pounds in educational stipend in the northern region for eighty-three students of service personnel in the current academic year, and nearly one million pounds for 79 children in 2023-2024 under a established policy.

An official representative said "service children can experience regular relocations" and the allowance "seeks to minimize disruption to their education".

Plaid Cymru called it a "total misuse of funds" and "a disrespect to our language" while the Conservatives said families should be able to select the medium in which their children are taught.

The figures were obtained following a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

The website of RAF Valley on Anglesey tells its personnel, "for those residing and working in northern Wales, where state schools provide some or all classes in the Welsh language, you may choose to enroll your kids to an English-medium independent school".

"Provided you are accompanied by your family at your duty station, you can utilize this allowance to cover the cost of school charges, educational excursions/residential educational courses and daily transport."

A defense ministry representative told, "the purpose of the educational stipend in the northern region (the allowance) is to assist service families stationed to the region, where Welsh is the main language of public schooling".

"As mobility is a part of service life, military kids can encounter regular transfers and the this allowance seeks to minimize interference to their learning."

"The MoD acknowledges the contributions military members, and their relatives make, and through DSA-NW assists with the costs of independent day schooling provided in English."

'In Areas With Bilingual or Non-English Instruction'

The benefit covers tuition fees up to a maximum of £22,755 a year, £7,585 each semester, and is accessible to personnel residing in the regions of Conwy, Denbighshire, the locality, the island or the district and serving in one of the following establishments:

• The military base, Anglesey
• The combined forces alpine training facility, the island
• Joint Services Mountain Training Wing, Llanrwst
• The university military training program (the corps), Bangor unit, the city

The eligible private schools are Treffos institution, Llansadwrn, Anglesey; Rydal Penrhos preparatory institution in Colwyn Bay; St Gerard's school, the city and St David's institution, Llandudno.

The relevant joint service publication confirms that "payment of the allowance is limited to those regions where teaching in the public system is on a bilingual or non-English basis".

Personnel serving elsewhere in the multiple services of the armed forces - the ground forces, the naval service and the Royal Air Force - can apply for a continuity of education allowance which helps with boarding and/or school charges up to a cap, with a minimum parental contribution of ten percent for each eligible child.

Welsh Conservative Senedd member Natasha Asghar said "personnel of the UK military relocate across the country and the globe, and the ministry has always sought to guarantee that their kids have access to continuity in education".

"Although we fully support Welsh-medium education across the country, it's crucial to remember there are dual recognized tongues in our country, English and the Welsh language, and local councils and school boards should provide for each."

"Families should always have the option to select the medium in which their children are instructed."

Plaid Cymru's education spokesperson Cefin Campbell MS stated "not just is this a total misuse of funding, it is a slight to our tongue".

"It's hard to imagine any justifiable cause to be spending such money annually, on preventing young people living in Wales from having the opportunity to acquire the Welsh tongue."

"Bilingualism enhances life and aids the growth of youth, but the British administration is clearly blind to this."

"These funds is a clear illustration of the approach of the Westminster parties towards the nation and the Welsh language - namely ignorance and insults."