Plaid Cymru is launching its ‘Back to Basics’ plan today - to tackle literacy crisis, pledging that libraries will be in every primary school across Wales by 2030.

A Plaid Cymru government would guarantee access to library spaces in every primary school in Wales by 2030 as part of a wider Back to Basics approach to improve literacy outcomes, states the party’s education spokesperson and Senedd Member for Mid and West Wales Cefin Campbell, who will launch the policy at Carmarthen library on Wednesday, September 3 at the start of the school year.

Wales recorded its lowest-ever reading score in the 2022 PISA assessment, 466, falling below the OECD average is part of a wider set of reforms that Plaid Cymru will ranking last among UK nations.

The decline since 2018 was steeper than elsewhere in the UK, marking Wales’ weakest performance since joining PISA in 2006.

ESTYN’s 2023–24 Annual Report highlighted that many primary schools lack effective planning for advanced reading skills. Over 30% were advised to improve literacy, numeracy, or digital skills.

Under Plaid Cymru’s plans, every child in Wales will have access to a dedicated library space to support literacy, bilingualism, and a lifelong love of reading, with investment prioritised for primary schools that currently lack provision by 2030. The policy commitment is inspired by the National Literacy Trust and Penguin Books' Libraries for Primaries campaign.

Plaid Cymru’s education spokesperson Cefin Campbell said research shows that access to school libraries boosts children’s reading, especially in disadvantaged communities, but that Labour had failed to provide this vital support. Guaranteeing a library in every primary school, he said, would be an important step towards raising literacy levels.’

‘This initiative is part of a wider package of reforms that Plaid Cymru will be launching over the next few months to tackle the literacy crisis in Wales’, he added.

Plaid Cymru Education spokesperson Cefin Campbell MS said: “The latest PISA results for reading put Wales at the bottom of the UK rankings. This isn’t as good as it gets for our children.

“Plaid Cymru believes we need a ‘Back to Basics’ approach to improve outcomes, and guaranteeing library spaces in every primary school is one step towards that.

“Labour have neglected the foundational role of libraries in literacy, and it’s one of their many failures that not every primary school has access to an on-site library.”

“Our children’s futures should not depend on postcode lotteries.

“When children read, families thrive. Every child deserves a space to discover the joy of reading. Plaid Cymru will make that a reality.

“Wales needs new leadership and real change in 2026 – leadership that puts children first, invests in schools and communities, and gives every family in Wales a fair chance. That’s what Plaid Cymru will deliver.”