Former member puts pressure on Education over outdated law
EDUCATION should press ahead quickly with a new law that would devolve powers to schools, a former member of the committee has said.
The current law is said to be 75 years out of date and a policy letter proposing a new one was handed over by the previous committee.
Current president Andrea Dudley-Owen has said that its attention has been focused on a general induction process and the secondary review ‘alongside gaining a detailed understanding of the various component parts of a high-quality education “eco-system”.’
‘The committee will next turn its attention to the Education Law review and an introductory briefing has been scheduled,’ she said, although the answer did not say when.
It will provide an update after that.
Former ESC member Peter Roffey has quizzed Deputy Dudley-Owen on the progress through written questions.
‘Of course I respect the right of the new committee to ensure they agree with the proposals for a new law before submitting them to the States but it really is a pressing requirement,’ he said.
‘The old law may date from the 1970s but it is based on UK legislation from the immediate post-war era, making it 75 years out of date.
‘During the last term a working party containing leading educationalists had drawn up a set of proposals for a new law which was ready to go to the States when the election was called. There had even been considerable “pre-drafting” work done on the proposed new law.
‘I really hope that once it has been reviewed by the new committee they will bring it forward soon, not least as it will open the path to devolving the governance of schools and the Guernsey Institute to specialist boards of governors rather than the States attempting the impossible task of being the “board of governors” of about 20 different institutions and controlling their budgets centrally.’
He wants head teachers to be given more autonomy to run their own schools with accountability to boards of governors.
Deputy Roffey also urged the committee not to drop Advocate Peter Harwood from his role as independent overseer of the review of secondary education.
‘I think it is crucial this role continues because the sensitivity of the subject gives rise to conspiracy theories about “political agendas” and reviews being informed by ideology even when that is far from the truth,’ he said.
‘I am sure that the current ESC committee would not be so arrogant to suggest that this level of independent oversight was required for other committees but not for themselves.
‘I think the States was very fortunate to secure the services of Advocate Peter Harwood for this role because he is universally respected for his objectivity, candour and even-handedness.
‘It is notable that his appointment was discussed with the teaching representatives who agreed he was an ideal candidate. I think the States/ESC would be very foolish not to retain his services.’
