This Is Guernsey

By Nick Mann

CONCERNS exist over the independence of the team picked for the education management review. The Policy Council has appointed Trevor and Graham Robinson to work on this review and another review on the role of the States as an employer,

Requete signatories have questioned the involvement of Graham Robinson on the education review because he once worked for the department.

But Deputy Chief Minister Stuart Falla stressed that Graham Robinson would lead on the civil service review, with both investigations feeding into each other.

‘There are concerns which we are discussing with the Policy Council at this stage because of the history within education and what we see as the need for independence - somebody who perhaps had not been involved at all,’ said requete leader Deputy Jean Pritchard.

Discussions on the scope of the education review announced by the Policy Council are ongoing with requete signatories who want it to go further.

The council took charge of the issue over a year ago but announced its intention for a review looking at the present management structure and whether it meets future needs only at the beginning of the month.

Requete signatories want it to look at past events.

The requete was put on hold, but will now be debated in October if the issues are not resolved.

It had been expected next month, but signatories decided that with more talks set, it should be deferred another month.

‘We’re looking for leadership, direction and action, that’s all. Whatever the findings of the review are, they are - that’s what we’ve said all along,’

said Deputy Pritchard.

Deputy Falla acknowledged the independence concerns.

‘Trevor Robinson, who is completely fresh to this matter, will be concentrating primarily on the education review because we believe Graham Robinson may have some history. In order to demonstrate independence, it would be better if he was not the lead on that matter,’ said Deputy Falla.

‘We recognise that as an issue, but because we want one to inform the other we don’t want an entire separation.

‘We expect them to talk to each other.’

He added that a reasonable person would say that was a good idea.

‘The fact one has commenced a review, particularly on education, doesn’t necessarily mean things are falling apart and that there are problems. People have raised issues and we must analyse them, but we don’t want to prejudge for whatever reason that things are wrong.’

Article posted on 21st August, 2007 - 12.00am