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The President of ESC said she is “saddened” that so many amendments were lodged against her committee’s Policy Letter on the Education Law Review without prior discussion.
The Committee for Education, Sport and Culture put its version of a modernised Education Law before the States last week, and the resulting debate – which included dozens of amendments – was dubbed a car crash by one deputy, before the entire Policy Letter was eventually pulled.
The President of ESC, Deputy Andrea Dudley-Owen, said it was not appropriate to continue debate on the Policy Letter, while essentially creating legislation through amendments on the floor of the assembly.
She has since come out and spoken of her disappointment with how the debate played out.
“This outcome is naturally very disappointing for the Committee and all those stakeholders, and there are many, who engaged with us during the preparation of these proposals and were supportive of them,” she said.
“Nevertheless, it is clear that asignificant number of States Members are concerned about elements of our proposals, and I of course respect the will of the Assembly. After more than 50 years since the Law was last updated, it is to be expected that there has been nervousness about seeing what a modern progressive law should look like and how this could apply to Guernsey.
“I am saddened that so many amendments were lodged by Members who had no prior discussion with the Committee before doing so. Many of these type of amendments have price tags attached and would lead to delay, matters that were not acknowledged or were blatantly ignored by those who brought the motions.”
Pictured: “I also cannot hide my disappointment that our attempts to engage with States Members throughout our time in office and in anticipation of this debate have been poorly attended,” said Deputy Dudley-Owen.
She said the Committee will not let “this hump in the road” deter from the need to push forward the education system.
Deputy Lyndon Trott, during debate, said the “extensively mauled” Policy Letter would need to be brought back before this assembly, or a motion of no confidence would almost certainly be lodged against ESC.
And it certaintly seems like this is Deputy Dudley-Owen's intention. In a statement posted after the debate she reiterated her Committee’s aim to recoup and return.
“I am determined to deliver the draft proposals back to the Assembly before the end of term and working with colleagues to make sure this happens. We must continue our hard work of improving and strengthening education in Guernsey and striving towards an excellent provision all round.”
Pictured: The three grant-aided colleges.
In response to the debate, the three grant-aided colleges – who benefited from an amendment distancing them from ESC oversight – have welcomed the motion to withdraw the Policy Letter, while looking forward to seeing the next iteration.
In a joint statement they said: “[We] are pleased to see the support for the various amendments passed yesterday and that the Assembly recognised the value of the grant-aided independent colleges to Guernsey’s educational landscape. We look forward to the new policy letter incorporating these changes and addressing our other areas of concern. Collectively, the three colleges look forward to working with the Committee for Education, Sport & Culture on the next iteration of this important piece of policy.”
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