P&R gets education debate moved
A REQUETE calling for a one-year delay to proposed changes to secondary education will be debated at the next States meeting on 26 February.
The subject had not been scheduled for discussion at the meeting, which is already due to discuss two requetes, one related to 5G technology and the other concerning the anti-tank wall at L’Ancresse, among other things.
But Policy & Resources president Deputy Gavin St Pier lodged an amendment calling for the education requete debate to be brought forward from 18 March.
‘The longer the uncertainty drags on it will impact the cost and credibility of the States,’ he said.
Education, Sport & Culture president Deputy Matt Fallaize opposed the change, and he believed his committee would also oppose the amendment.
P&R vice-president Deputy Lyndon Trott seconded the amendment, but the rules did not allow for him to speak since there was no general debate.
Speaking to the Guernsey Press afterwards, he said there had been unprecedented public concern with regard to education policy during this term.
‘The sooner direction is given to Education, Sport & Culture in whatever form that takes, the better.
‘All governments must on some occasions move up a gear in terms of the timings of its decisions and this is clearly one such occasion.
‘Accelerating the debate on the requete, and by definition any amendments that may emerge, is absolutely the right thing to do.’
The amendment was passed by 22 votes to 15 with two abstentions, and the amended schedule was also approved.
