The union is worried about the dearth of Welsh language teachers

Welsh teachers' union Ucac has called a public meeting at the National Eisteddfod on Tuesday to discuss the problem.

Last year it emerged that three secondary schools in Powys had been unable to appoint Welsh-medium teachers.

There is a brain drain to places like Cardiff because young teachers are moving away from rural areas Edwyn Williams, Ucac

This meant the schools were breaking the law because Welsh is a compulsory subject for pupils up to the age of 16.

Although Welsh-medium teachers are now at these schools, the unions is worried that the problem could resurface next year.

National strategy

"Although this is a national problem it seems to be worse in Powys," said Ucac general secretary Edwyn Williams.

"There is not only a problem of recruiting people to come and work in Powys but also keeping them as well.

"There is a brain drain to places like Cardiff because young teachers are moving away from rural areas."

Llanidloes High School had to advertise three times before it could attract someone to a Welsh language teaching post, according to Mr Williams.

"Forward planning is needed concerning Welsh-medium education in Powys," he added.

The high school in Llanidloes struggled to find Welsh teachers

"The Welsh Assembly should develop a national strategy for recruiting and retaining Welsh teachers into the profession.

"Because Powys schools are facing recruitment difficulties pupils are not getting their entitlement to study the language."

During the meeting, Helen Mary Jones, who speaks on education for Plaid Cymru, will discuss the assembly's "duty" to promote teaching as a career and will outline how the number of Welsh teachers could be increased.

Wayne Williams, who co-ordinates the county's Welsh-medium education plan, will utline the challenge facing Powys Council.

"We have been working with the schools to try and alleviate the situation through the peripatetic system," said a council spokesman.

"We will also raise the county's profile at teaching colleges to try and attract more newly trained teachers to Powys."

The meeting, held at the National Eisteddfod's societies tent at 1100 BST, will involve representatives from teaching unions, the local authority and the National Assembly.