Cymdeithas yr Iaith has praised Carmarthenshire Council's commitment to rural schools.

The language society has commended the council's "Modernising Education Strategy" document, which will be presented to the council's cabinet on November 18.

Ffred Ffransis, a member of Cymdeithas yr Iaith's education group, welcomed the 'clear statement' that 'Carmarthenshire County Council is committed to doing everything in its power to maintain and strengthen rural schools,' which 'sets the whole discussion in a positive context.'

He also praised a commitment that any school would be subject to a detailed series of considerations before drawing up proposals on its future to 'realise the principle of presumption against closing a rural school,' and comply with the requirement in the Welsh Government's School Organisation Code to consider all other options 'while proposals are still at a formative stage.'

However, Mr Ffransis criticised Ceredigion Council's approach to the future of four rural Welsh-language schools in the north of the county: Ysgol Llangwyryfon, Ysgol Craig-yr-Wylfa, Ysgol Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn, and Ysgol Syr John Rhys in Ponterwyd.

Mr Ffransis said: "Ceredigion Council started from the point of view of needing to cut the general budget, and then look for rural schools to close as easy targets.

"Officials decided to close a number of rural schools, and then call in headteachers and governors to tell them that their schools are to close."

Ceredigion Council is already the subject of a formal complaint from Cymdeithas yr Iaith to the Welsh Government's education secretary, Lynne Neagle, that it has not complied with the School Organisation Code when drawing up the proposals for consultation for the above reasons.

Despite a response to correspondence to the government being normally expected within 17 days, which in this case Cwymdeithas yr Iaith said is November 8, no response has arrived so far.

However, Cymdeithas yr Iaith has emphasised that it is better to give detailed consideration to the complaint than to rush a decision, as the credibility of the whole concept of 'presumption against closing rural schools' is at stake.