Guernsey's post-16 education system 'approaching crisis point'

Steve Roussel, president of the GBTEA, described the current facilities used by the island's apprentices as "diabolical [and] terrible, simply not fit for purpose"

Guernsey's post-16 education system is "approaching crisis point", according to the organisation which represents the island's construction businesses.

The Guernsey Building Trades Employers Association (GBTEA) has written to all deputies to urge them to make progress with the building of a new post-16 campus at Les Ozouets.

Proposals to build it are currently on hold because of a lack of funding.

Plans to fund the project through borrowing are being debated later.

Borrowing plans could be supported by a new tax on businesses.

'Ashamed'

The GBTEA said "as a community we should be ashamed that we have let the education strategy and facilities of our island get to the state they are in today".

It has urged politicians to make a firm decision on future funding and said it "will take years to repair the damage already done".

Steve Roussel, president of the GBTEA, described the current facilities used by the island's apprentices as "diabolical [and] terrible, simply not fit for purpose".

'Concerned'

Deputies Sasha Kazantseva-Miller and Bob Murray have argued the borrowing needed to push ahead with the project can be funded via a new corporate levy.

Previously, Guernsey's Chamber of Commerce said it was concerned by the idea of a corporate levy.

In a letter to the island's Committee for Economic Development, it said: "The proposal to raise additional revenue for the Transforming Education Programme, while commendable in its intent, appears to lack a comprehensive consideration of its long-term financial implications.

"Such an approach, in our view, could jeopardise Guernsey's financial credibility and governance reputation."

Plans to delay Education, Sport and Culture's (ESC) programme and force Policy and Resources (P&R) to come back to the States with details of how the programme could be funded have also been put forward.

Deputy Charles Parkinson said he did not want to derail the current plan, but he wanted to make sure a decision was made on future funding with all the details known.

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