Guernsey Press

Education minister calls for equal opportunities

VOTE for reason, logic and providing equal opportunities for pupils in Guernsey, the Education minister asked the States yesterday.

Published

Robert Sillars called on deputies to dismiss an amendment from deputies Elis Bebb and Mark Dorey removing proposals to rebuild La Mare de Carteret in favour of a review of the secondary system.

The £60m. project also faces a challenge from Treasury and Resources if the Bebb amendment fails, which would allow the school to be rebuilt on the proviso that Education commits to closing one of the island's four secondary schools first.

'What justifiable reason is there to close a school today without consultation first? The answer is that there is none,' said Deputy Sillars.

Deputy Bebb said with a shortfall of roughly £30m. in the States capital investment programme, the States needed to be confident that rebuilding La Mare was value for money before spending more than £60m. on the project.

While a supporter of abolishing selection, Deputy Matt Fallaize said he would not support the amendment as anyone who thought it could be reviewed before the end of the States term was living in 'cloud cuckoo land'.

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