English: Thank you for the statement. I too would like to thank everyone who is seeking to ensure that our children and young people are able to return to education in a safe manner, which is a huge challenge, of course, particularly as we see positive COVID cases on the rise among our children and young people, with dozens of schools now having been affected already by the coronavirus crisis. I have to say, I can't believe that you think that the test, trace and protect system is 'successful'. I think that's the word you used. That's the least appropriate description of it in my view, given the situation developing with testing in our schools. There is a grave weakness with that part of the strategy, which is that first step: the testing. And implementing that part of the strategy is very weak at the moment. Now, I do know that the COVID testing is an issue for the health Minister, but there is a responsibility on you as education Minister when the lack of testing and the delays in getting tests does mean that far too many pupils are absent from our schools unnecessarily and are therefore missing out on their education once again. Unfortunately, my inbox is full of e-mails from parents from all parts of Wales - not just Arfon, but all corners of Wales - who tell me that their school had sent their child home because they were symptomatic, which, of course, is the right thing to do, as you've just mentioned, but then that the school expects that child to have a test before returning to school but the parents simply cannot access a test either through the mail or in a drive-through centre. So, I would like to know what discussions you are having on behalf of our children and young people who don't want to miss out on more of their education on this utterly unacceptable situation with testing and why can't the Welsh Government education department develop a specific mechanism for parents, pupils and staff in schools so that schools can easily access testing. What about creating one point of contact for schools to deal with testing so that they can access them far more swiftly than they can at the moment? We must resolve this and I would like to hear what you've been doing about this particular situation. Another issue that is a cause of concern for pupils and parents is the situation with face coverings on school buses. Now, I think there's a lack of clarity, and therefore I would like to know who exactly is responsible for enforcement in terms of the wearing of face coverings on school buses. Again, my inbox is full of messages from people who are concerned about seeing problems arising on that journey to school on the bus. You've provided more funding for school transport, but that alone isn't going to improve the situation where there isn't clear guidance in place and clarity for both pupils and parents on the enforcement of this aspect of face coverings. And to conclude, the major question on examinations remains and what will happen next summer. The increase in cases and the unacceptable situation with testing does mean that the education of some of our pupils is already being affected and we've only just got back, so why don't you announce that examinations won't be held next year and that you will focus rather on creating a robust system of using assessments that doesn't include having to be physically at school to take an exam? There's no mention of that in your statement and an early announcement on that issue would be very much appreciated.
Welsh: Diolch am y datganiad. Hoffwn innau hefyd ddiolch yn fawr iawn i bawb sy'n ceisio sicrhau bod ein plant a'n pobl ifanc ni yn gallu dychwelyd at eu haddysg mewn ffordd ddiogel, sydd yn her enfawr, wrth gwrs, yn enwedig wrth inni weld achosion positif o'r COVID ar gynnydd ymhlith ein plant a'n pobl ifanc ni, efo dwsinau o ysgolion wedi cael eu heffeithio yn barod gan yr argyfwng coronafeirws. Mae'n rhaid i fi ddweud, dwi'n methu credu eich bod chi'n meddwl bod y strategaeth olrhain, profi ac amddiffyn yn 'llwyddiannus'. Dyna'r gair rydych chi'n ei ddefnyddio. Hwn ydy'r gair lleiaf addas i ddisgrifio'r sefyllfa sy'n datblygu efo profion yn ein hysgolion ni. Ar hyn o bryd, mae yna wendid mawr efo rhan o'r strategaeth, sef y cam cyntaf: y profi. Ac mae gweithredu'r rhan honno o'r strategaeth yn simsan iawn ar hyn o bryd. Dwi yn gwybod mai mater i'r Gweinidog iechyd ydy'r profion COVID, ond mae o'n gyfrifoldeb arnoch chi fel Gweinidog Addysg pan fo'r diffyg profi a'r oedi gyda chael prawf yn golygu bod llawer gormod o ddisgyblion yn absennol o'r ysgol yn ddianghenraid ac felly'n colli allan ar eu haddysg unwaith eto. Yn anffodus, mae fy inbox i'n llawn o e-byst gan rieni o bob rhan o Gymru - nid Arfon yn unig, ond o bob cwr o Gymru - sydd yn dweud bod eu hysgol wedi anfon eu plentyn adref o'r ysgol efo symptomau, sef y peth iawn i'w wneud, fel rydych chi newydd sôn, ond wedyn bod disgwyl gan yr ysgol bod y plentyn yn cael prawf cyn dychwelyd i'r ysgol ond mae'r rhieni'n methu'n lân â chael prawf innau drwy'r post neu mewn canolfan dreifio drwodd. Felly, byddwn i'n hoffi gwybod pa drafodaethau rydych chi'n eu cael ar ran plant a phobl ifanc Cymru sydd ddim eisiau colli mwy o'u haddysg am y sefyllfa gwbl annerbyniol yma efo profion a pham na all adran addysg Llywodraeth Cymru greu mecanwaith penodol ar gyfer rhieni, disgyblion a staff ysgolion fel bod modd i ysgolion gael mynediad rhwydd at brofion. Beth, er enghraifft, am greu un pwynt cyswllt i ysgolion ynglŷn â'r sefyllfa profion er mwyn iddyn nhw gael gafael arnyn nhw yn llawer iawn cynt na maen nhw ar hyn o bryd? Mae'n rhaid inni ddatrys hyn, a buaswn i'n leicio clywed beth rydych chi wedi bod yn ei wneud am y sefyllfa. Mater arall sy'n peri pryder i rieni a disgyblion ydy'r sefyllfa efo mygydau ar fysiau ysgol. Dwi'n credu bod yna ddiffyg eglurder, felly hoffwn i wybod yn union pwy sydd efo'r cyfrifoldeb am orfodaeth ynglŷn â mygydau ar fysiau ysgol. Eto, mae fy inbox i'n llawn o bobl sydd yn poeni wrth weld problemau'n codi ar y daith ar y bws i'r ysgol. Rydych chi wedi rhoi mwy o arian tuag at drafnidiaeth ysgol, ond dydy hynny ar ben ei hun ddim yn mynd i wella sefyllfa lle nad oes yna ganllawiau clir ac eglurder i rieni a disgyblion ynglŷn â'r orfodaeth ar yr agwedd yma efo'r mygydau. Ac i gloi, mae'r cwestiwn mawr yn parhau ynglŷn ag arholiadau a beth sydd i ddigwydd yr haf nesaf. Mae'r cynnydd mewn achosion a'r sefyllfa annerbyniol efo'r profion yn golygu bod addysg rhai o'n disgyblion ni'n cael ei amharu arno fo'n barod a dim ond newydd ddechrau ailgychwyn mae pethau. Pam na wnewch chi gyhoeddi na fydd arholiadau'n cael eu cynnal flwyddyn nesaf ac y byddwch chi'n canolbwyntio'n hytrach ar greu system gadarn o ddefnyddio asesiadau sydd ddim yn cynnwys gorfod bod yn yr ysgol yn gorfforol i eistedd arholiad? Does yna ddim sôn am hynny yn eich datganiad chi, ac mi fyddai cyhoeddiad cynnar am hynny'n cael ei werthfawrogi'n fawr iawn.