This Is Guernsey

By Nick Mann

DEPUTY Education minister Wendy Morgan has defended voting against giving 16-year-olds the vote. And in response to calls from students and deputies for more to be done to educate youngsters on local politics, she said enough was being done.

The States decided on Wednesday to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in next year’s general election.

‘We have introduced citizenship into the personal social and healthcare education programme. That covers things like constitutions, voting, who our States members are - the whole gamut of our government,’ said Deputy Morgan.

‘It’s done at different levels, getting more complex as they go through their school career.’

She highlighted St Andrew’s Primary head teacher Mary Sebire always running a mock general election at the time of the real one.

But despite backing the education system, Deputy Morgan believed that 16 was too young to vote.

‘I’ve never pretended to think otherwise. If you are going to make a value judgement on who represents you, you should have some experience of life.

‘At 16, you have had some experience, but you haven’t had to balance the books, deal with complex situations.’

She added that some argued there should be no taxation without representation.

‘But the vast majority of our students stay on at school,’ said Deputy Morgan.

She did not think many students would earn enough to pay tax.

‘I just think it’s too young. When you get to 18, you get a group of people who have been in the community, working in it, know what problems are facing people other than yourself.’

She added the thing she was really protesting about was so many different age barriers being put up, such as 18 for smoking and drinking.

Deputy Morgan did not rule out further changes to the school curriculum in light of the decision, saying it was being worked on all the time.

‘We’re never complacent at Education. We have to keep moving the goal posts and reviewing what we’re teaching,’ she said.

‘But the school curriculum is bursting at the seams. Would someone want us to teach more civics at the expense of English or maths?’

Provisions are already in place for the new wave of voters to get their name on the electoral roll.

Anyone aged 15 can also pre-register to ensure their name is on the roll for when they reach 16.

The registrar-general of electors will be sending forms to all secondary schools and colleges in the next few days.

Forms are also available from Sir Charles Frossard House, the Greffe and the various parochial offices.

Alternatively, people can phone the Home Department on 717000 or email home@gov.gg to ask for an application form.