EDUCATION minister Martin Ozanne misled the public, it was claimed yesterday. The row with Scrutiny over complaints procedures is another blow in a difficult month for the department during which it has faced calls for resignations and accusations it is wasting taxpayer’s money.
Deputy Ozanne had claimed that Education was not given enough time to respond to the committee’s enquiries.
‘It is regrettable that the Education minister does not appear to be aware of the real position and that in fact a response from his department has been outstanding for over five months, despite a reminder at staff level,’ said Deputy Pritchard.
According to Deputy Ozanne, Education received a letter from the committee asking for comments on its complaints monitoring report only last month that gave it two weeks to respond.
But the October letter was actually the final check after Education had been given several months to comment on the report.
‘This is not the only instance where the Education Department has either been too slow to respond or has simply not responded at all, despite our reminders,’ said Deputy Pritchard.
She cited an outstanding response to a letter, also sent in May, with regard to States apprenticeship schemes.
‘On the positive side, the Education minister has stated his willingness to cooperate with the Scrutiny Committee and, for its part, the committee welcomes this and looks forward to better and speedier communications,’ said Deputy Pritchard.
The Scrutiny report found that seven of the 10 departments had shown positive commitment since the last review of complaints procedures in August 2005.
November’s problems come during a year in which Education has lost an unfair dismissal tribunal involving former Le Rondin head teacher Jane Stephens.
It is also currently undergoing a full management review, the results of which are expected within months.
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