INCA Education around the world
Wales : National characteristics
1.1 National characteristics
Demographic, geographic, economic, political and religious context, to help explain expectations and social goals.
Geographic
Wales is part of the United Kingdom (UK), which consists of Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) and Northern Ireland. Wales covers an area of 20,766 square miles75. The official languages in Wales are English and Welsh, which are treated with equality for official purposes144.
Demographic
In 2001, the population of the UK was almost 59 million, with those people resident in Wales amounting to almost three million. The UK population is ageing. In 2001, there were five times more people aged 85 and over than in 1951. There were also more people aged over 60 than under 16.
Economic
UK general
A shift from activities to services continues to characterise the UK economy. The service sector accounts for around 65 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), compared with 50 per cent in 1950. On the other hand, manufacturing contributes less than one quarter of GDP, whereas it accounted for over one-third in 1950.141
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) unemployment rate for the UK (persons aged 16 and over) in 1999 was six per cent (6.7 per cent for men; 5.1 per cent for women) and employment is generally increasing. Data sourced from the ILO LABORSTA database available online at http://www.ilo.org
Wales
In general, during the period 1985 to 1997 in Wales, economic progress was good: real GDP rose by 30 per cent; unemployment fell by 42 per cent; and total employment rose by eight per cent. In addition, manufacturing employment rose by six per cent, whilst manufacturing output rose by 46 per cent. Sectors experiencing substantial growth included motor vehicles, electronics and instrument engineering. However, large areas of Wales, such as West Wales and the Valleys, remain among the poorest in Europe, with GDP per capita in some areas only 64 per cent of the European Union (EU) average. Some EU funding is being provided to help regenerate such deprived areas.142
Political
The United Kingdom has a constitutional monarchy and the Sovereign is Head of State and Head of Government. The Government comprises the Legislature (Parliament), the Executive (the Cabinet, which consists of about 20 Ministers, who are usually Heads of the Government Departments and are chosen by the Prime Minister) and the Judiciary. Parliament consists of the Queen, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Most of the work of Parliament is conducted in the House of Commons. The Conservative Party had formed the Government of the United Kingdom for 17 consecutive years until the General Election of 1 May 1997. This election was won by the Labour Party, which has remained in power through subsequent elections in 2001 and 2005.
The constitution of the UK is not contained in any single document but comprises statute, common law (precedent) and convention. The nature of the union of the United Kingdom means that there may be separate statutes, laws and conventions in the four constituent parts. In the case of education, separate legislation exists for England, for Wales, for Scotland, and for Northern Ireland respectively44. Scotland and Wales were granted devolved powers in 1998, and in 1999 elected their own National Assemblies. The National Assembly for Wales (NAfW), which replaced the Welsh Office (WO), administers and implements legislation in the education system in Wales, although most primary legislation-making powers still rest with the UK Parliament based in London. Northern Ireland formed its Assembly in 1999.45
Government of Wales Act 2006
The Government of Wales Act was passed in 2006. Its aim is to ensure that further powers can more easily be granted to the National Assembly for Wales. The Act has the following provisions:
- It separates the power of the Welsh Assembly Government between a legislative body - the National Assembly for Wales (comprising the 60 Assembly members), and an executive body - the Welsh Assembly Government (comprising the First Minister, Welsh Ministers, Deputy Welsh Ministers and the Counsel General (see below)).
- It creates a new power for the Assembly to make law in devolved areas. Such laws will be known as "Assembly Measures" and will be able to go much further than is currently the case.
- It provides for primary law making powers for the National Assembly for Wales, but these would not come into force unless approved in a referendum. The resultant laws would be known as "Acts of the Assembly".
- It creates a Welsh Seal and a Keeper of the Welsh Seal (the First Minister).
- It creates a Welsh Consolidated Fund.
- It creates the post of Counsel General as a member of the Welsh Assembly Government and its chief legal adviser.
- It assigns to the Queen new ceremonial functions of formally appointing Welsh ministers and granting Royal Assent to Acts of the Assembly. 224
The separation between legislature and executive took effect following the Assembly elections in May 2007. The role of the executive (the Welsh Assembly Government) is to make decisions; develop and implement policy; exercise executive functions; and make statutory instruments. The 60 Assembly members in the National Assembly scrutinise the Assembly Government's decisions and policies; hold Ministers to account; approve budgets for the Welsh Assembly Government's programmes; and have the power to enact Assembly Measures on certain matters. 224
Language
The official languages in Wales are English and Welsh. Welsh became a compulsory National Curriculum subject, either as a first or second language, in Key Stages 1-3 (students aged 4/5-14) in 1990, and in Key Stage 4 (students aged 14-16 years) in 1999.144
