From Brian Hotton.
I READ (JEP, 20 August) that Senator Mike Vibert is to seek re-election and he wishes to continue to lead Education, Sport and Culture.
He has been in charge of Education for the last six years. I feel that he should step aside from this role. In fact, I would be surprised if he was re-elected at all, considering he only came fourth in the 2002 Senatorial elections.
Why do I believe he should step aside? It seems to me that the Senator believes that a child will learn better in a new school, which is why we have seen the demolition in recent years of perfectly good school buildings. The tens of millions of pounds for demolition and rebuild could have been invested in other areas of education.
I suppose that it could be said if a school has all the up-to-date equipment it should be the best learning environment. I could not agree more. The problem with Senator Vibert’s policy was the demolition of good buildings where there was no need for the buildings to be demolished.
I imagine that the historical buildings of Oxford, Cambridge and Eton, some over 600 years old, are good seats of learning and have all the up-to-date equipment.
Then, of course, Senator Vibert wishes to have universal early-years nursery education and care for three- and four-year-olds. Admirable wishes – however, with the budget he has he is not going to be able to deliver. At the moment it is unfair. There are people who could well afford to pay for their children who have free nursery education, while others cannot afford to pay and cannot send their children to nursery school and therefore cannot take up employment, which is in itself a cost to the States.
What is needed is someone who understands that unnecessary spending on demolition and rebuilding diverts money from elsewhere, such as early-years nursery education and care for three- and four -year-olds, more or better teachers for the ‘failing students’ that end up at Highlands College after secondary education and of course student higher education grants.
Of course, we can have all of this if the States wish put up income tax. Does Senator Vibert wish to see a rise in income tax? I will ask him this question at the hustings.
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