Doubt ruins a good day for La Mare

Whatever else, the amended proposals mean the redevelopment of the schools should no longer be in doubt.

Quite when the first lessons will take place is unclear, as is how big the classrooms will be and of what standard the buildings. There may be an autism centre, a competition-level sports hall and a pre-school nursery. There may not.

It is that uncertainty that takes the edge off yesterday's States decision. With Treasury and Resources running the slide rule over everything from the total number of spaces and 'generous' pupil-to-teacher ratios to the 'high investment in ICT', this is still very much a work in progress.

It is also one which demands that Treasury and Education work together towards a common outcome. If late-night negotiations in the lead-up to the debate could not bridge the gap between the two departments, it is clear they must be some distance apart.

Running through all of the forthcoming discussions will be the phrase 'value for money'. Bean counters would have people believe this is some form of empirical concept which can be proven beyond any doubt.

The reality is that it is subjective. How valuable is a pre-school nursery to the people of Les Genats and the west? How do you put a value on an autism centre? How big can a class get before pupils' education suffers?

While experts will have a view on all such matters, it is, in the end, an educated guess.

The disappointment of the pupils and teachers that the project could be delayed by a year should be a lesson to the States. Hopes were raised and now there is nothing but doubt.

After being in the pipeline for more than a decade, there should have been no surprises. Treasury and Education will blame each other for that. The reality is that if there were questions, they should have been asked and answered many months ago.