ESC’s consultation period far too short

He says in it that the States supports the ‘one-school, two-sites proposals’. He also said that the States of Deliberation has voted twice on the subject of education, therefore he has the mandate to proceed with these latest proposals.

The people of Guernsey elect deputies to govern on our behalf. Prior to election each of them puts forward a manifesto on which they stand to be elected. We therefore have a reasonable expectation that they will carry out our interests and follow that manifesto as far as they are able to. At no time has this Assembly ever had the mandate to introduce this one-school, two-site proposal. Not one of the deputies stood on this manifesto and, in fact, Deputy Graham, vice president of ESC, stood on a manifesto to save the Grammar School and selection.

Deputy Fallaize says that the States has voted twice to support the new model of secondary education. The States of Guernsey consists of 38 deputies and not all voted in favour of this new model. However, even if they had all voted unanimously, this means that just 38 people on the island have been given total power to change the model of education that this island has successfully enjoyed for decades.

In fact, I ask why a subject as important as the education of our children and grandchildren, who are the future leaders of this island, was not put to a referendum. Is education thought to be less important than island-wide voting?

He also says that there are significant resource advantages in the two 11-18 colleges and all pupils would have access to first-class facilities. I use just one example of this being suspect.

Liz Coffey, the newly appointed head of Lisia School, admitted when asked directly that there will be no dedicated sixth form facilities in Les Beaucamps. She admitted that the refectory area in Les Beaucamps will be the allocated area for the sixth form. This open area will also be used to feed four shifts of students. Currently there is a dedicated sixth form at the Grammar School, which is planned to be scrapped.

Deputy Dudley-Owen’s sursis was defeated by just one vote, and not by a two-to-one majority as Deputy Fallaize reported. She and her colleagues have sought to bring common sense back to the Assembly and should be supported. Deputy Fallaize referred to Deputy Dudley-Owen and her supporters as irresponsible because they do not offer an alternative. This is not true.

Contrary to Deputy Fallaize’s comments, there are people who have been involved in education in Guernsey over many years who have put forward sound ideas as to how education should be organised going forward, but they have been ignored and not allowed a say. Deputy Dudley-Owen and associates are merely trying to slow this process so that all options can be considered in a more measured way.

The reality is that ESC want to force their opinions on the public without reasonable consultation, and this is evidenced by the fact that they sought to hold a consultation period at the eleventh hour, as short as possible, over the Christmas period, hoping that it would pass everyone by. Start date 5 December, end date 27 December.

I suggest that if Deputy Fallaize spent his time conversing with a wider section of the public, he would realise that the deputies opposing this unrealistic proposal are far from ‘peddling a myth’.

I do agree with Deputy Fallaize that the community have endured enough uncertainty over education, however that is no reason to press on with this ill-thought-through scheme. He also said that the debate had been going on for five years now, and again I state this was with just a discussion between 38 people who are not experts at the end of the day.

Interestingly he makes no reference to the traffic mayhem that this one-school, two-sites would cause the island as a whole. Not surprisingly he was quoted recently as saying he has ‘no idea how this traffic management will work’. He also said that he is going to employ someone to ‘fix it’. As usual, just use the hard-earned taxpayers’ money to pay for it.

MRS C. WILKINSON

cewilkinson@birchwood.gg