Select a region
Amelie Watts is a member of the Youth States and has written a letter of concern about how politicians in Guernsey are treating the debate around transforming education.
You can read her letter here in full:
"I am speaking on behalf of the young people in guernsey when I say:
"As a young person in Guernsey my future should hold the upmost importance when it comes to education. This does not mean looking at short term ways to provide the mediocre education I am currently receiving , this means using the recourses and funding we have to make the best educational system we can. We are the generation that will be filling jobs and becoming the Islands future in the next 20 years. I am limited in my options post-16 and further as; as an island we just can not provide the opportunities that would be in places like the UK.
"However, not enough is being done. Two years ago I attended a meeting at the performing arts centre about the new post-16 campus and how amazing it will be. As a youth body we were amazed about how we were going to achieve a truly amazing education to boost our options . This [would include] a building that was not falling apart and was definitely not sub standard. This building was sustainable, well structured, astoundingly better than our current post 16 options and was all on one site. This is extremely favourable by us as young people as it offers us expansion on our options in hopes for a brighter future.
"Moving away for university is extremely jarring and expensive especially in an on going economic crisis when it comes to the cost of living. Currently nearly a quarter of people in the UK simply can not afford to go to university and out of those who can afford to go another quarter can not even afford their required textbooks. In Guernsey the costs of going to university are even higher due to relocation. I am fully aware my family as well as many others will either be in debt due to costs of university or will not be able to afford it. This is ludicrous. Why when given an option to provide a high quality education which includes further education on Guernsey is funding not provided. Implementing a new campus that has been suggested would significantly benefit the youth of guernsey, put more families in a better economic state and keep people in Guernsey.
"I personally feel not prioritised, as deputies that claim to be invested in education just do not prioritise education and young people. Our current buildings such as Les Varendes are just not adequate and something needs to change. Yet when given a proposal to solve so many issues and make a brighter future for young people funding is not provided. If the older generation want to help young people be successful in... Guernsey in the future they need to invest in our future. To invest in our future means investing in better post-16 options. I as, well as many other young people, are in favour of the new campus and truly believe it will change are future. It’s our job as young people to keep Guernsey in the position it is... and succeed in the future. So it's your job as deputies and adults to ensure the people responsible for Guernsey's future have the correct education to do so: Of which, us as young people feel, you can do... by the funding of the new post 16 campus."
