Efforts to encourage students to use Welsh in every aspect of their lives are to bring Pembrokeshire College a £150,000 boost to increase its Welsh language course provision.

The college, which will receive £50,000 per year for the next three years, is one of five colleges to get a share of the £750,000 Welsh Government grant.

The money will be used to employ a bilingual champion, who will increase the number of modules and courses available to learners through the medium of Welsh or bilingually.

This person will also aim to create opportunities for learners to maintain and develop their Welsh language skills through a range of informal activities.

As part of the bilingual champions scheme, the college will also hire additional staff to assist with portfolio building and assessment, and establish a mentoring programme for staff.

Minister for education and skills Leighton Andrews said: “I am delighted that we have been able to extend this scheme to give students in FE colleges more opportunities to continue their studies through the medium of Welsh or bilingually, and to offer the support needed to encourage students to continue to use the language.

“Extending this scheme will develop and strengthen Welshmedium provision in further education in line with the target set in the Welsh Government’s Welsh-medium Education Strategy.

“It also supports our new Welsh Language Strategy which aims to create more opportunities for people to use Welsh in every aspect of their lives.”