The Welsh government has been accused of keeping aside rural communities by changing semester dates. They fear that the move could prevent thousands of students and families from participating in the iconic Royal Wales show.
The Welsh Government update provided in a written statement changes the timing of school duration in a way that limits attendance in the first two days of the show, which takes place annually during the first week of the traditional summer vacation.
Opposition parties are comparing the move to the controversial and now delayed school leave reforms previously proposed by labour and plaid Shimru.
These plans included shifting to October, a week of summer vacation. This is a proposal that has been widely criticized by the agricultural industry for direct clashes with the Royal Wales show.
The reforms also faced united resistance from all major teacher unions and tourism and business leaders, urging the Welsh government to shelve them until after the next election.
Natasha Asgal, Wales’ conservative Shadow Cabinet Education Secretary, warned that the latest changes “threatening” the annual event.
She added, “We will definitely reduce our footing by limiting the number of families that can attend in the first two days.”
As Royal Wales is a key obstacle to reforming “deeply unpopular” school holidays for workers and plaid Shimru, Asgal said adjustments “seem to be a step towards reviving plans to steal future summer holidays.”
“The Welsh government cannot ignore opposition from all teachers’ unions, nor does it have agriculture, tourism or business sectors,” added Asgal.
“We need to rethink these dates immediately, and school holiday reforms must not only be postponed but completely discarded.”
The Royal Welsh show, celebrating agriculture and rural life in Wales, is not only a major cultural highlight, but also an important boost for the rural economy.
Critics argue that by limiting school children’s ability to attend, the government risks undermining both the scope of the event and its broader impact on the agricultural community and future generations.
Samuel Kurtz, the Welsh conservative shadow cabinet secretary for rural issues, reiterated his concerns, saying, “The changes that put young people at risk the ability to enjoy it should be limited to bins.
“This decision adds to the narrative that agriculture and rural communities are an afterthought to labor and not a priority.”
