Education: ‘Most parents would welcome a delay’

The vote then was mostly concerned with the abolition of the 11-plus and was based on very limited information about the consequences of that decision.

Since then it has become clear that much of the information that was given then was wildly inaccurate, especially on the financial side.

I doubt that all the deputies who voted to abolish the 11-plus exam realised that it would mean importing a comprehensive regime lock, stock and bottom of the barrel from the UK that has consistently delivered academic results inferior to those achieved by Guernsey schools. I further suspect that very few deputies then realised that the cost of moving to an inferior education system would include a £108m. boost to the construction industry to build new schools for which no clear need has been established. This level of expenditure would not be needed if the present education system were retained or replaced by something more sensible than the ESC plan.

Very few parents are enthusiastic supporters of education at comprehensive schools and most would probably welcome a delay in the implementation of any changes, especially if that delay allowed a better solution to be found.

States members should look critically at any proposed changes put before them and vote against any that they believe are not in the best interests of island children.

BARRIE PAIGE,

GY6 8BP.