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Sunday, 11 March, 2001, 17:46 GMT
Plaid Cymru: Education policies
Find out more about the Plaid Cymru's education policies.
Education is a matter devolved to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies - and Westminster MPs have little influence over education policy in these parts of the United Kingdom. For more information see our full guide to devolution.
Plaid Cymru would fund schools using a formula based on need as well as numbers.
Plaid Cymru demands the abolition of tuition fees for students, and the introduction of the Scottish graduate endowment system.
Its MPs will be demanding that the government reinstate means-tested grants for students from poorer backgrounds, to secure equal access to higher education.
They believe increased funding for higher education must come from additional public investment in education and training.
Plaid Cymru believes teachers' pay should be based on good performance and commitment to their own professional development, not on pupils' performance.
Plaid Cymru says that Westminster's control on the framework and funding of education policy is damaging the Welsh Assembly's attempts to improve conditions.
It says that Labour at Westminster has prevented representatives in Cardiff from developing a "a truly Welsh agenda" by failing to enter into the spirit of devolution.
Schools should be a resource for the community, the party says, not a commercial entity in a competitive market.
It says the Welsh Assembly needs full legislative powers over education.
Plaid Cymru says that it will press for a general increase in teachers' salaries rather than performance related pay.
It also calls for policy to be shifted away from a "target setting culture", including abolishing league tables.
However, parents should still have access to information on a school's performance taking into account social factors and special needs of the pupils.
The party says that Wales needs a substantial expansion in pre-school education but opposes the emphasis on formal teaching.
The assembly should be given full responsibility for higher education in Wales, the party says.
It supports a recent report that suggested that salaries in higher education need to be higher to attract and retain quality staff.
The party opposes Labour's introduction of student fees and calls for the reintroduction of maintenance grants.
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