This Is Guernsey

By Nicci Martel

ONE of the teaching unions believes political pressure from the top led senior Education members to back student loans. ‘Teachers will, of course, understand the pressures upon all the politicians concerned,’ said Sean McManus, spokesman for the National Union of Teachers in the island.

‘One imagines they will have been subjected to a certain amount of political arm-twisting by more senior States members and perhaps had an eye towards their board’s future dealings with the States’ purse-holders.’

He said teachers had been left saddened and disappointed by the decision of minister Martin Ozanne and his deputy, Wendy Morgan, to back student loans.

But unlike some politicians, they are not calling on them to resign, but would understand if they wished to consider their position.

‘The unions have not met since the vote to consider any motion of no confidence in their political masters,’ said Mr McManus.

‘It was a profoundly sad decision of a majority of the Education board to fail to support the prime proposal of their own policy letter.

‘By contrast, many of those involved with the delivery of education will have applauded the minority of board members who retained the strength of their original convictions and voted accordingly.’

In the States last week, Deputy Ozanne and Deputy Morgan had a last-minute change of heart and decided to vote for the introduction of loans, rather than support their department’s own proposal for increased funds.

Deputy Ozanne defended his decision, saying he voted with his head and not his heart.

He said that at no point had he claimed loans were unacceptable and that he always considered them to be an eventuality.

He also said that calls for his resignation were a step too far.

Mr McManus also said that most teachers regretted the decision to implement loans and feared that it would make it harder for them to encourage students to continue with higher education.

They were concerned that loans would make it more difficult for young people to resist the temptation of a well-paid job in finance, when the alternative of university would saddle them with a £9,000 debt.

‘It will place Guernsey graduates even further behind their counterparts who choose to remain behind to enter the employment market and to climb up the career ladder with vocational training underwritten by their employers.’