Education impasse: officers, board could go
SENIOR Education officers could be forced out and politicians face a vote of no confidence under two 'nuclear options' if tensions at the committee reach breaking point.
It all comes as former Education board members raised concerns and expressed shock at comments from Education, Sport & Culture vice-president Carl Meerveld over a breakdown in the relationship between politicians and staff.
It has prompted fears that trust had been seriously breached by the deputy's outburst and children's learning could suffer by the distraction and continued uncertainty facing the secondary education policy.
It has emerged that the reconciliation process to address friction at Education has seen a senior civil servant from Policy & Resources sit in on committee meetings to try to help address the issues.
But, with a review now being ordered into what is going wrong, former Education board member and Scrutiny president Chris Green called on the two sides to sort out their differences and work together to end uncertainty over secondary education – rather than one side being forced out.
'I hope they can step back from the brink,' he said.
'Try to pull out all the stops to work constructively together. I wouldn't say one of these nuclear options is the best way to proceed.'
Deputy Green said it would probably need frank and constructive talks.
'It is down to a question of trust,' he said. 'One hopes that trust can be rebuilt, but I am not so sure it can in the circumstances.'
