Deputies' schools visits 'still too inconsistent'
EDUCATION Department board members are not taking a consistent approach to school visits, it has transpired.
The news comes nearly two years after the Mulkerrin report highlighted the need for changes.
Denis Mulkerrin said it was important for deputies to visit schools 'far more often' and view lessons.
Deputy Lester Queripel asked rule six questions about the issue recently. But board members said that while they attended termly school committee meetings, visits around the premises varied and no records were kept.
Education Minister Robert Sillars said each deputy was allocated to a board, but how they handled their schools was up to them.
'Some deputies do get more involved and go and see more of the schools,' he said.
He said politicians had to balance how involved they got in the schools.
In his case he visited every school in 2012 and most of them last year.
Former Education board member Deputy Matt Fallaize said committee meetings were not enough for deputies to know what went on in a school, as these mainly discussed property matters.
'I don't think anyone who just attends a committee meeting would really understand what was going on inside a school,' he said.
