Translate the text from Welsh to English.



 
Hoffwn roi’r diweddaraf i aelodau ynghylch yr hyn yr wyf wedi’i wneud i fynd i’r afael â’r pryderon difrifol am gampws Caerdydd y ‘West London Vocational Training College’.

Daeth Llywodraeth Cymru’n ymwybodol o bryderon am gampws y coleg yng Nghaerdydd ym mis Medi eleni. Bryd hynny, tueddiadau a phatrymau recriwtio anarferol o ran myfyrwyr oedd canolbwynt ein pryderon.

Trafododd swyddogion statws campws Caerdydd y coleg gydag Uned Gwybodaeth Darparwyr Amgen yr Adran Busnes, Arloesi a Sgiliau ac yna cyfarwyddwyd y partner dilysu – sef Pearson UK – i gynnal adolygiad o’r campws. Ymwelodd Pearson â’r Coleg ar 21 Hydref ac ni nodwyd unrhyw bryderon sylweddol bryd hynny.

Hefyd, ceisiwyd sicrwydd gan Gyllid Myfyrwyr Cymru bod pob gwiriad preswylio a chymhwysedd priodol yn cael ei wneud mewn cysylltiad â myfyrwyr y coleg. Ni nodwyd unrhyw broblemau o ran materion preswylio, ond mae Cyllid Myfyrwyr Cymru yn awr yn cymharu data gyda Pearson.

Bellach, mae honiadau wedi’u gwneud sy’n awgrymu ei bod yn bosibl bod un unigolyn, neu fwy, o fewn y coleg wedi cydgynllwynio â darpar fyfyrwyr i dwyllo’r system cyllid myfyrwyr drwy ffugio cofnodion academaidd a chofnodion presenoldeb yn y coleg. Buaswn yn disgwyl i unrhyw honiadau o weithredoedd troseddol gael eu hatgyfeirio at yr heddlu i ymchwilio iddynt yn llawn.

Oherwydd difrifoldeb yr honiadau sy’n cael eu gwneud yn erbyn y coleg, mae fy swyddogion wedi ysgrifennu heddiw at y Cwmni Benthyciadau Myfyrwyr yn eu cyfarwyddo i atal ar unwaith bob taliad i’r ‘West London Vocational Training College’ ac i’w fyfyrwyr yng Nghaerdydd tra bo ymchwiliadau’n mynd rhagddynt.

Efallai y bydd aelodau’n cofio y bu inni, yn gynharach eleni, ymgynghori ar gynigion i gryfhau meini prawf mewn perthynas â cheisiadau am ddynodiad penodol. Yn dilyn yr ymgynghoriad hwnnw, rydym yn ystyried cyflwyno meini prawf newydd, mwy caeth yn y flwyddyn newydd. Bydd hyn yn cynnwys ei gwneud yn ofynnol i gorff sy’n gwneud cais am ddynodiad brofi ei statws elusennol a dangos ei fod yn hyfyw’n ariannol ac yn cael ei reoli’n dda.

  






Translation:


 
 


I want to update members on actions I have taken to address serious concerns about the Cardiff campus of the West London Vocational Training College.


The Welsh Government became aware of concerns about the West London Vocational Training College’s Cardiff campus in September of this year. At that point, our concerns centred on apparently unusual student recruitment trends and patterns at the College.


Officials discussed the status and operation of the College’s Cardiff campus with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Alternative Providers Intelligence Unit and subsequently instructed the validating partner – Pearson UK – to undertake a review of the Cardiff campus. Pearson visited the College on 21 October and no substantive concerns came to light at that time.


Assurance was also sought from Student Finance Wales (SFW) that all appropriate  residency and eligibility checks were being undertaken in relation to students at the College. No residency problems were detected but SFW is subsequently undertaking a data matching exercise with Pearson.


Allegations have since come to light to suggest that one or more individuals within the College may have colluded with prospective students deliberately to defraud the student finance system by falsifying academic records and records of attendance at the College. I would expect any allegations of criminal activity to be referred to the police so that they may be investigated fully.


In view of the seriousness of the allegations now being made against the College, my officials have today written to the Student Loans Company instructing them to suspend all payments to the West London Vocational Training College and to its Cardiff students with immediate effect and while further investigations are ongoing.  


Members may recall that earlier this year we consulted on proposals to strengthen criteria in relation to specific designation applications. Following that consultation we are considering introducing new and more stringent criteria in the New Year. This will include an applicant body, first and foremost having to demonstrate its status as a charity, as well as that it is financially viable and well\-managed.