Swap shoppers want action on education

Clean Earth Trust volunteer Jenny Murphy said she felt there had not been a lot of focus on education at this election

People in Guernsey have shared their election priorities and concerns about the future of education at a monthly swap shop.

The event was hosted by the Clean Earth Trust at KGV, Rue Cohu ahead of the election on 18 June.

Mother Sophie Burt said she felt families had "been let down election after election" when it came to education.

Volunteer Jenny Murphy has two children, one in secondary and another in primary, and said she felt education had "fallen off the table".

"I would like to hear more from candidates on how they are going to fix it," she added.

In 2020, at Guernsey's first island wide general election, education was one of the biggest issues on the ballot following a move to halt progress towards a two-school model for secondary education.

The President of Education, Sport and Culture (ESC) in 2020, Matt Fallaize, lost his seat alongside other members of his committee like Mark Dorey and Rhian Tooley.

Since then the current ESC Committee has managed to secure some stability in the secondary sector, after the States approved a move to a three 11-16 school model with a post-16 campus at Les Ozouets.

Ms Burt said she was concerned about education at this election

Ms Burt's two children have not started school yet, but after uncertainty since the States abolished the 11+, she asked candidates for a renewed focus on delivering better outcomes for children.

"Education is the most important issue for me, there's nothing in preparation for the future generation of Guernsey and if you're not going to invest in them now, then what future do you have?

"I feel really sorry for the families in the education system at the moment, as they've been let down election after election and something needs to change."

With 82 candidates to choose from, Ms Kaill has found the whole process overwhelming

Yvonne Kaill, who is a volunteer at the swap shop, said she felt "overwhelmed" by the whole election process.

She said she would like to go back to the parish system of electing deputies, rather than island-wide voting.

Meyrick Simmonds, who repaired a sewing machine alongside other items at his repair café at the swap shop, said the election process was "tedious."

"It needs a lot of research," he said.

Mr Simmonds' top priority for candidates is the economy

Mr Simmonds was concerned about Guernsey's public finances.

"I want someone to sort the economy and balance the books before you do anything else."

He added: "You won't solve the housing crisis by building houses, because what are you going to do when they've all been filled and their kids need houses?"