English: Thanks to Luke Fletcher and other Members for tabling this motion today and giving us the chance to discuss what is a very important issue: how we support our young people so that they can get the most out of their education. It follows on very naturally from last week's debate on the Children, Young People and Education Committee's report into pupil absence, and of course it's very timely when we are all aware of the cost-of-living pressures every person in Wales is facing. As a starting point and as the first part of the motion reminds us, it is of course to be welcomed that the Welsh Government made the decision to retain education maintenance allowance here. That was in stark contrast, of course, to the Cameron-Clegg UK coalition Government. Seemingly, one of their first actions on taking office was to scrap EMA for English students. I'm reminded that Michael Gove was the education Secretary responsible for that, so it's interesting to see that his commitment to levelling down was just as strong back in 2010. Since then, EMA has been used well by young people in Wales. It has provided an additional level of support, enabling them to stay on in school or college, to continue their education or training, to try and maximise their chances and opportunities. And it's important that we remember this isn't just for young people taking A-levels or BTECs, but it's also used to support young people living in Wales taking basic or independent living skills qualifications too. I regularly witnessed the positive impact EMA had when I was teaching. It made a real difference and ensured that eligible young people could stay on to continue and complete their studies and achieve their full potential. Many of those young people in receipt of EMA also had part-time jobs, and these would often be on zero-hour contracts, with pressure from employers to work longer and longer hours, and that of course could have a detrimental impact on their studies. With my pastoral role, that became a familiar pattern year after year. I know from my discussions with schools and colleges in my area that it's still a challenge for those 16 to 18-year-olds, with the need or desire to earn more contrasting with study requirements. EMA provides that source of help so young people who may not be able to rely on family support can focus on their courses. As the motion also reminds us, 2011 saw a positive change to EMA in Wales, where a previous system of banding depending on household income was replaced with a flat rate of £30 for learners. However, as other speakers have mentioned, that's the same flat rate as when EMA was introduced in 2004 and the same flat rate at which it is awarded now. That, I believe, is problematic. By my estimation, in terms of purchasing power, £30 in 2004 is equivalent to just under £59 today, so the value of EMA has been significantly impacted as costs have got higher and higher. Things that EMA was and is used for have become more expensive, so that the payment just won't stretch as far. This will of course have consequences for our young people and the decisions that they make, as I touched on earlier. More and more of our young people will be facing difficult choices and may be making decisions not to continue in education or having to work longer hours in their part-time jobs, which will also have an impact on their studies and on their mental well-being. Others may find that it's not even about having to make a choice at all, finding themselves having to leave education or training completely. Thresholds for household income have simply remained static. With that being the case, I would like to wholeheartedly endorse the suggestion in the second point of the motion. I hope that Welsh Government will consider a review of both the rate of EMA and the threshold at which it's awarded. It's high time that a detailed review of the working of EMA is considered to help build the evidence base so that we can determine what can be done, how we can best support our 16 to 18-year-olds and meet their needs so that they can continue in school or college. We know that there is tremendous pressure on resources, but EMA is a lifeline to many of our young people who are eligible for it. We must focus on giving them the right support so that they can succeed. I look forward to voting in support of this motion today.
Welsh: Diolch i Luke Fletcher ac Aelodau eraill am gyflwyno'r cynnig hwn heddiw a rhoi cyfle inni drafod mater pwysig iawn: sut mae cynorthwyo ein pobl ifanc i gael y gorau o'u haddysg. Mae'n dilyn ymlaen yn naturiol iawn o'r drafodaeth yr wythnos diwethaf ar adroddiad y Pwyllgor Plant, Pobl Ifanc ac Addysg am absenoldeb disgyblion, ac wrth gwrs mae'n amserol iawn a ninnau i gyd yn ymwybodol o'r pwysau costau byw y mae pob person yng Nghymru yn ei wynebu. Fel man cychwyn ac fel mae rhan gyntaf y cynnig yn ein hatgoffa, mae i'w groesawu wrth gwrs fod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi gwneud penderfyniad i gadw'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg yma. Roedd hynny mewn gwrthgyferbyniad llwyr, wrth gwrs, i Lywodraeth glymblaid Cameron-Clegg. Yn ôl pob golwg, un o'u gweithredoedd cyntaf fel Llywodraeth oedd cael gwared ar y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg i fyfyrwyr Lloegr. Caf fy atgoffa mai Michael Gove oedd yr Ysgrifennydd addysg a oedd yn gyfrifol am hynny, felly mae'n ddiddorol gweld bod ei ymrwymiad i ostwng y gwastad yr un mor gryf yn ôl yn 2010. Ers hynny, mae'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg wedi cael defnydd da gan bobl ifanc Cymru. Mae wedi darparu lefel ychwanegol o gymorth, gan eu galluogi i aros yn yr ysgol neu'r coleg, i barhau â'u haddysg neu hyfforddiant, er mwyn ceisio manteisio i'r eithaf ar eu cyfleoedd. Ac mae'n bwysig ein bod yn cofio nad ar gyfer pobl ifanc sy'n dilyn pynciau Safon Uwch neu BTEC yn unig y mae hwn, caiff ei ddefnyddio hefyd i gynorthwyo pobl ifanc sy'n byw yng Nghymru i fynd ar drywydd cymwysterau sgiliau byw annibynnol neu sgiliau sylfaenol hefyd. Roeddwn yn dyst yn rheolaidd i'r effaith gadarnhaol a gâi'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg pan oeddwn yn dysgu. Fe wnâi wahaniaeth gwirioneddol a sicrhau y gallai pobl ifanc cymwys aros i barhau a chwblhau eu hastudiaethau a chyflawni eu potensial llawn. Roedd gan lawer o'r bobl ifanc a gâi'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg swyddi rhan-amser hefyd, a byddai'r rhain yn aml ar gytundebau dim oriau, gyda phwysau gan gyflogwyr i weithio oriau hirach a hirach, ac fe allai hynny wrth gwrs gael effaith niweidiol ar eu hastudiaethau. Gyda fy rôl fugeiliol, daeth hynny'n batrwm cyfarwydd flwyddyn ar ôl blwyddyn. Rwy'n gwybod o fy nhrafodaethau gydag ysgolion a cholegau yn fy ardal ei bod yn dal yn her i rai rhwng 16 a 18 oed, gyda'r angen neu'r awydd i ennill mwy yn gwrthdaro yn erbyn gofynion astudio. Mae'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg yn darparu'r ffynhonnell gymorth honno fel y gall pobl ifanc na allant ddibynnu ar gefnogaeth teulu ganolbwyntio ar eu cyrsiau. Fel y mae'r cynnig yn ein hatgoffa hefyd, gwelodd 2011 newid cadarnhaol i'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg yng Nghymru, lle daeth cyfradd sylfaenol o £30 i ddysgwyr i gymryd lle system flaenorol o fandio yn dibynnu ar incwm cartrefi. Fodd bynnag, fel y mae siaradwyr eraill wedi sôn, dyna'r un gyfradd sylfaenol â phan gyflwynwyd y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg yn 2004 a'r un gyfradd sylfaenol a ddyfernir nawr. Mae hynny'n broblematig y fy marn i. Yn ôl yr hyn rwy'n ei amcangyfrif, o ran pŵer prynu, mae £30 yn 2004 yn cyfateb i ychydig o dan £59 heddiw, felly effeithiwyd yn sylweddol ar werth y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg wrth i gostau fynd yn uwch ac yn uwch. Mae pethau yr oedd, ac y mae'r lwfans yn cael ei ddefnyddio ar eu cyfer wedi mynd yn ddrytach, fel na fydd y taliad yn ymestyn cyn belled. Bydd hyn wrth gwrs yn arwain at ganlyniadau i'n pobl ifanc a'r penderfyniadau a wnânt, fel y soniais yn gynharach. Bydd mwy a mwy o'n pobl ifanc yn wynebu dewisiadau anodd ac efallai y byddant yn gwneud penderfyniadau i beidio â pharhau ym myd addysg neu'n gorfod gweithio oriau hirach yn eu swyddi rhan-amser, a bydd hynny hefyd yn cael effaith ar eu hastudiaethau ac ar eu lles meddyliol. Efallai y bydd eraill yn gweld nad yw hyd yn oed yn galw am wneud dewis o gwbl, ac yn gorfod gadael addysg neu hyfforddiant yn gyfan gwbl. Mae trothwyon ar gyfer incwm aelwydydd wedi aros yn sefydlog. O'r herwydd, hoffwn gymeradwyo'r awgrym yn ail bwynt y cynnig yn gryf. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn ystyried adolygiad o gyfradd y lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg a'r trothwy ar gyfer ei ddyfarnu. Mae'n hen bryd ystyried adolygiad manwl o'r ffordd y mae'r lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg yn gweithio er mwyn helpu i adeiladu'r sylfaen dystiolaeth fel y gallwn benderfynu beth y gellir ei wneud, sut y gallwn gefnogi ein pobl ifanc 16 i 18 oed yn y ffordd orau a diwallu eu hanghenion fel y gallant barhau yn yr ysgol neu'r coleg. Rydym yn gwybod bod pwysau aruthrol ar adnoddau, ond mae lwfans cynhaliaeth addysg yn achubiaeth i lawer o'n pobl ifanc sy'n gymwys i'w gael. Rhaid canolbwyntio ar roi'r gefnogaeth gywir iddynt er mwyn iddynt lwyddo. Rwy'n edrych ymlaen at bleidleisio o blaid y cynnig hwn heddiw.