Long wait for debate continues...
WHILE it's always good to know our politicians are in 'listening mode', at some stage we'd far prefer to see some action. News this week that the Education, Sport & Culture president is refusing to give a firm (or even ball-park) date on when a proposed £64m. rebuild of La Mare de Carteret High School and plans for the future of secondary education might return to the States has been met with derision by the many who view it as blatant backtracking. Previously he had apparently pledged to return with proposals by the autumn to overturn a decision by the former States to end selection and review the possible closure of one secondary school.
Yet now we hear it is all the media's fault for latching on to a comment during a radio show and taking a November timescale as read.
Instead a so-called brainstorming day is said to have thrown up ideas over what the 'big picture' future of education should now look like, with the president presumably listening intently throughout.
'I know it sounds like a cliche,' he has said. Well, at least he has got that one right.
Retaining the Grammar School or not, having selection at 11 or 14, or not at all, putting hundreds of pupils and teachers out of their misery and providing better learning conditions, must surely rank as the most pressing matters on his new desk.
Yet it increasingly feels as if the long-running issue is threatening to go the way of other 'too difficult to deal with' decisions that have so dogged previous administrations.
Meanwhile, more time passes and taxpayers can only look on as potential costs rise as inflation runs at £3m. Similarly, disillusioned teachers warn the uncertainty is damaging for everyone.
Yesterday that view was echoed by rebuild advocate the former Education minister, who as far back as 2014 recommended plans for a 420-pupil primary school, pre-school nursery, enhanced sports facilities and an autism centre, at a cost then of £60.2m. He also highlights the knock-on effect for a local construction industry forced to wait in the wings for an outcome.
What was a divisive election issue shows no signs of abating over four months on.
And while the prevarication continues we can only expect to see those unsettling divisions deepen.
