EDUCATION minister Carol Steere is opposed to student loans, as long as finding the money to continue with grants does not impact on other essential services.
Deputy Matt Fallaize will take a requete to the States in September aimed at reversing the decision made by the previous administration to introduce the loans.
Deputy Steere (pictured) was not among the 23 deputies to sign his petition – she wants to find out where the money would come from and whether any other services would be affected as a result before deciding her final stance.
‘Personally, I would not wish to put the burden of loans on students,’ she said.
‘My stance has been that it comes down to affordability. The previous House made it clear the money was not available, that was the previous States’ decision.
‘Whether the States will now make a different decision is a matter for them.’
Deputy Steere would not be comfortable accepting money for grants if it meant funds being removed from another department’s budget.
‘It’s about seeing what else is going to miss out,’ she said. ‘I would be concerned if us having that money impacted on other departments, particularly if it came from services that are socially related.’
Scrapping or delaying loans would cost an anticipated extra £2.5m. a year.
Deputy Steere said that in the current time of constraint, she had to be absolutely sure about where the money would come from before she supported it.
‘It’s not that I think it’s fair to put the burden on students, because I don’t,’ she said.
‘We have a certain level of income and we have to determine the best way of using that income so that the whole community benefits and gets the services it requires.
‘If Treasury and Resources say, “we cannot provide any more money and the only way we could do it is by taking it from X, Y and Z”, and I think that area is essential, then I have to accept that.’
Deputy Steere said it would be a difficult decision.
‘But if I thought the money was there, then of course I would vote for it,’ she said. ‘I have yet to be convinced.’
Article posted on 28th June, 2008 - 9.30am
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