The States should not seek to abolish any subsidies that provide choice for our children
I HAVE dyslexia, which affects me every day. One of the impacts this had when I was young was that I couldn’t complete any of the 11-plus papers and gain a States scholarship in education. My teachers saw something in me and encouraged my parents to speak to Elizabeth College, the only independent secondary school that accepted boys in Guernsey at the time.
My parents were not wealthy; my dad was a carpenter, and my mum was a bookkeeper. They were humble people who were very concerned about the costs associated with schooling. However, the headmaster of Elizabeth College encouraged them to enrol me there. He sat down with my parents and devised a payment plan, and my mother took on an extra job to help cover the expenses.
Those decisions, early in my life, enabled me to find the confidence to engage with the world, pass the exams I needed, and secure employment in the global marketplace. I am certain my parents would have encouraged me equally had I chosen to remain within the States’ schooling system, but it was crucial at the time that an affordable choice was available.
We are a small island community, and providing choice and inclusivity in teaching will always be important, as it will deliver the educational outcomes necessary for ensuring the enduring prosperity of our island. These differences in education will equip us with the tools to drive innovation and enhance our economy. Choice will continue to add value to our island through the diverse skills we provide to our children.
A government education strategy that encourages growth, inclusivity, and choice must be integrated into our entire educational ecosystem, utilising resources from both the States of Guernsey and the independent sector. It is crucial to recognise that collaboratively leveraging both public and private funding is a more effective approach than solely focusing on separating the two.
Our forefathers recognised the importance of choice in education and established a model that facilitates harmony and has enabled the prosperity we enjoy today. The States of Guernsey should not seek to abolish any subsidies that provide choice for our children, whether in States schools or independent schools. It is essential to identify the best long-term pathways for our island, our children, and the community; this will secure our success.
I believe that States funding should remain in place, and I encourage anyone reading this letter who believes in the betterment of our island to contact their elected representatives:
(www.gov.gg/yourdeputies) and, if possible, attend the States debate on 19 March.
ANDREW NILES
President
Old Elizabethan Association