Jersey’s Education Minister quits over reopening of schools

Senator Tracey Vallois has quit saying she “does not accept” the expertise of the government’s STAC committee which determined schools are safe for teachers and pupils, and “the domino effect” the plans have on the ability to deliver a good education. Credit: ITV Channel TV

Jersey’s Education Minister has resigned her post accusing the Chief Minister of “dismissing” her “fight to be listened” to and ignoring her objection to schools reopening.

Senator Tracey Vallois has quit saying she “does not accept” the expertise of the government’s STAC committee which determined schools are safe for teachers and pupils, and “the domino effect” the plans have on the ability to deliver a good education.

The letter, sent to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister on Sunday lunchtime, makes clear her weeks of discontent about the management of the pandemic and how it relates to today's (11 January) reopening of schools.

She writes: “I reasonably requested that my dissent to the reconnection plan be noted and the fact that the questions raised in this meeting had not been answered especially with regards to the new variant of Covid-19. This was clearly explained in the STAC letter to me on the 30 December 2020 and has not been reconsidered in recognition of the stance taken elsewhere for the impact of its high transmissibility.”

Senator Vallois says, in her letter, that she has been raising concerns of staff, parents and pupils with senior ministers since the start of December.

Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré confirmed this morning he has accepted Senator Vallois' resignation 'with great sadness'.

  • WATCH: Jess Dunsdon asks Jersey's Chief Minister about the resignation of Senator Vallois and the decision to reopen schools...

Senator Vallois is the fourth minister or assistant minister to quit the Council of Ministers in recent months following the departure of the Housing and Children’s Minister, Senator Sam Mezec, the Assistant Health Minister, Senator Steve Pallett, and the Assistant Economic Development Minister, Deputy Montfort Tadier, all in November.

Meanwhile the Planning & Environment Minister, Deputy John Young, is posting views opposing the Chief Minister’s strategy for managing the pandemic on a near-daily basis on social media.