'Those against ESC plans should say what the alternative should be'

Thursday, 23 January 2020 06:05

ESC president has responded to an online petition that opposes reforms to secondary education.

Deputy Matt Fallaize says the creation of the petition was to be expected, but added that people who have signed it have done so without knowing what the alternative would be.

'Among the diverse views on secondary and further education, most of us would surely agree that constant indecision by the States is unhelpful and that it is not enough for deputies to say merely what they don't want without explaining their own alternative plans,' he said.

'Delay in the way suggested by deputies Meerveld, Dudley-Owen and Prow is not realistic or credible. Of course they can propose scrapping the current reforms but they should provide clarity about exactly how they want to organise secondary and further education, including for the young people who are now or soon will be in the middle of the agreed transition plan which was formulated following advice from teachers.'

He added that many of those who oppose ECS's plans do not themselves agree what should be done instead.

He acknowledged that education is a divisive issue and said ESC is focused on trying to deliver the greatest possible benefits to all students.