‘No free college places for rich pupils, even if they pass there’
Friday 23rd September 2011, 2:29PM BST.
MEANS-TESTING to determine how much the States pays to support each individual pupil’s college place would be fairer than the Policy Council’s proposed funding system, says Deputy Jan Kuttelwascher.
He has tabled an amendment proposing an option the Policy Council had discussed and then rejected.
‘It’s an issue for a lot of people – they don’t see why someone who makes a lot of money should have their son’s or daughter’s school fees paid,’ he said.
Deputy Kuttelwascher (pictured) wants Education to pay a new lump sum to Elizabeth College, Ladies’ College and Blanchelande based on how much each pupil would receive – depending on the means-tested criteria.
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One jam sandwich short of a picnic that bloke, eh!
No wonder the island is struggling financially (and elsewhere!) with these folk behind the wheel. Elections couldn’t come sooner!
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I have only ever heard Socialists describe means testing as fair. As far as I can tell, what it means is that you earn more and thus pay more tax, but at the same time, get less back.
I am not quite sure what’s fair about that.
The current system is simple, genuinely fair to all bright children, and cost effective.
Anyway, are the Colleges better than the Grammar School for bright kids? A tough call. Is there any danger of the Grammar School becoming means tested?
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Poor Bob – I cannot agree with your viewpoint. Its more than clear to most people that the States can no longer afford to subsidize the wealthy in this way. Most people know of cases where a child has been given a free place at one of the colleges even though it would have been a drop in the ocean for their parents to foot the bill themselves.
I would fully support the “free” places being means tested. To me this whole issue should be examined together with the case for the continuation of the 11 plus – but that is a whole other story!!!!
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I’ve said it before, however, you can’t classify someone as rich by income alone. There are so many factors which need to be taken into account to call someone “rich” such as for how many years have they been on that income? When did they buy their house, was it their first and how much equity do they have in it? Have they inherited any assets? Do they have shares and other assets? How many children are in the family and how much family support do they have? The latter is VERY important because someone who does not have any family support pays out thousands of pounds per year for childcare to enable them to work. The list goes on and on… So you see it is not simple and neither is it fair and equitable to base the term “rich” on income alone and unless all other factors are considered in Jan Kuttelwaschers assessment (especially the last one) which i doubt that they are (correct me if I’m wrong) then it is overly simplistic in the real world and a far cry from “fair”.
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The States are not subsidizing the wealthy! The special place holders system is open to anybody, regardless of background, based on the results the child gets. Are you saying that children from wealthy backgrounds are more intelligent than others? I’ll let you fight that one by yourself!
Each of the three colleges are outstanding examples of truly successful schooling – and the states answer is to take money away from them. If something is performing extremely well you DO NOT start taking the resources away – as usual there is no logic in the States thinking.
Hate on the colleges all you want – but look around at the top leaders and important business people of today – where did they come from? Some things you can’t just ignore.
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poor bob,
I’d say that the top leaders and business people have got us in the brown stuff wouldn’t you.
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I’d rather means-test states members pay, and those that have nice, fat airline pensions wouldn’t get a bean from being a deputy.
Rachel – quite right – people can manipulate income away by exchanging it for capital or vice-versa if it suits. I would also ask how much money the grandparents have, and how much people might expect to inherit from them.
We can probably all name some rich folk, wholly reliant on handouts from mum and dad, but that have kids, a nice house, nice cars and a very comfortable lifestyle; but that pay next to no tax or GSSA because they have next to no assessable income. They feel no need to save (because they expect to inherit) so have little cash when means tested.
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