Pause and review needs independent oversight - Union

Wednesday 25 March 2020

The review of alternatives to the one school, two colleges model should be overseen by an independent expert if professional trust is going to be restored, according to a teaching union.

The Negotiating Committee for Teachers and Lecturers in Guernsey made the comments as it called for the Education, Sport & Culture Committee to make "genuine attempts" to consult with the profession in a meaningful way.

It comes after the States widely agreed to ESC's proposals for how the pause and review would work in practice.

The NCTLG, an umbrella of unions that represents teachers and lecturers across local schools, expressed "very real concerns" about the school transformation project.

"Following feedback from unions in January, it became clear that the vast majority of teachers and support staff were in favour of the requete to pause and review the current plans to transform secondary education in the island. There was very evidently a wholesale lack of confidence in the current Committee for Education, Sport and Culture’s (CfESC) plans.

Although the pause and review has been agreed, for a report to be credible the union said it must be overseen by an independent chair who "has the trust of the profession and public at large."

Pictured: Deputy Matt Fallaize's ESC Committee won a vote of confidence from the States Assembly last week.

"This is particularly important in light of the missed opportunity to restore public and professional confidence in the appointments process by voting not to embrace a tribunal of inquiry. Until this matter is resolved, there will continue to be doubts about the fairness of the appointment process for senior positions, especially if internal candidates are submitting applications. This is particularly relevant given the long-standing vacancy for the post of Director of Education."

The NCTLG expressed another wider concern around industry engagement.

"Members of our unions hope the next CfESC will make a genuine attempt to consult meaningfully with the professionals responsible for delivering education on the island.  The current CfESC has publicly acknowledged that it needs to rebuild trust and confidence with teachers and support staff. The NCTLG agrees with this, and will, of course, work with the committee, whoever its constituents are, to ensure that the voices of staff are heard as the review of options is undertaken."