Calls for Guernsey's Education Committee to step down

Guernsey's Education Committee (ESC) has been accused of trying to undermine the result of the most recent debate on secondary school reform.

An open letter from three politicians describes the ESC's actions as "shocking and disappointing" and calls for the entire Committee to step down.

It comes after a policy letter was put forward for debate next week by the ESC.

That letter asks States members to give more clarity on which school models should be investigated, after the result of the 'Pause and Review' requête.

But Deputies Andrea Dudley-Owen, Rob Prow and Carl Meerveld say the instructions given to the ESC in last week's debate have been "misinterpreted" and "ignored".

They say orders for uniforms for the Lisia School have already been placed, despite instruction from the States to halt all plans.

The open letter also claims the uniform supplier was given further confirmation of the order on 10 March 2020, seven days after the ESC was told not to enter into any contractual obligations on behalf of the States.

They say they will be forwarding the evidence to the Scrutiny Committee.

The Deputies have called for the ESC to step down and allow a new Committee to form.

In response, the ESC say the open letter paints a 'false picture of events'.

The policy letter is set to be debated in the States on 18 March.