Education protest builds with march on Sunday

Education, Sport & Culture is under immense pressure, with the vast majority of teachers in the sector signing letters in favour of a pause, douzaines hitting out at the impact larger schools at Les Beaucamps and St Sampson’s will have on the surrounding areas, and hundreds writing in opposition of the planning applications.

Policy & Resources has also now failed to come out and say whether it is fully behind ESC’s plans.

An online petition asking for the States to support a requete to delay the current proposals until after the June’s general election has over 4,000 signatures.

Following this, the organisers, People Power Guernsey, announced a further opportunity for the public to have their voice heard on the subject in the form of a protest march on Sunday.

Individuals are encouraged to bring their own placards and make signs.

Messages such as ‘stop and reflect’, ‘pause and review’ and ‘thought through not rushed through’ are supported and participants are encouraged to wear bright clothing and green ribbons where appropriate.

A spokesman from People Power said: ‘It is really important that people attend the march if they feel strongly against the plans, it is only by illustrating people power that the States will have to take notice and things may change.’

People Power Guernsey is made up of concerned individuals who are passionate about giving everyone who is against the current ESC proposals a voice by setting up various events, displaying green ribbons and hosting a petition.

The group is not suggesting what model is preferable or identifying which parts of the proposal they are against, its only objective is to raise awareness of the level of public concern and show support for the requete to delay the current proposals.

Policy & Resources has been given delegated authority to sign off £78m. spending on the schools’ extensions.

In an email to deputies on Sunday night, president Deputy Gavin St Pier said: ‘There is clearly a lot of debate publicly at the moment on how we move forward with the transformation of secondary education.

‘Firstly, it is important to emphasise there is a clear process already in play: the States have approved a policy and have directed that the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture develop a business case, which not only makes the case for the building projects at the Les Beaucamps and St Sampson’s sites, but also that the under-pinning educational model can be implemented and will deliver the better educational outcomes envisaged by the policy resolutions agreed by the States two years ago.

‘P&R’s role and responsibility is to objectively and impartially consider and determine the final business case.

‘To assist us in this, as with all such projects, the business case will be subject to an independent project assurance review, the report from which will be submitted to P&R alongside the business case.

‘There can and should be no pre-judgement at this juncture that the business case will be approved – otherwise there would be absolutely no point in this process.

‘While we appreciate many would like us to simply state if we are “for” or “against” the new model, it would be inappropriate to give that view without having considered the business case thoroughly.’

P&R stressed that while it has been given delegated authority by the States to make a determination on the business case, there is no requirement for it to do so.

‘We have experience of not using our delegated authority in this term, referring such matters to the States of Deliberation. P&R will discuss this further in the coming days when we have sight of the final form of the anticipated requete.

‘Ultimately everyone should have the same aim: to provide the best educational outcomes for our young people in a way that is both sustainable and delivers value for money for the community; the Policy & Resources Committee shares that aim whole-heartedly.’