States funds for colleges 'inherently inequitable'

It is "inherently inequitable" for the government to subsidise fees at Guernsey's three independent colleges, according to the island's education committee.

The committee has published its policy letter setting out how it wants to phase out funding for the colleges over the next five years.

The colleges have responded, saying by educating 30% of the island's secondary school children for about 3% of the estimated total education budget, they provide "excellent value for money".

The issue is due to be debated in the States of Deliberation before Easter.

In the letter, the Committee for Education, Sport and Culture said fees to attend the colleges were annually between £4,500 and £5,500 more than the cost of educating a States school student.

While the colleges said in an interview that fees would go up and a significant number of families would be impacted, the committee estimated there would not be 'migration en masse' to States schools.

It estimates if 10% of college students moved to States schools, the additional cost to the States would be £290,000, while it would otherwise grant £2.85m to the three schools in the next academic year.

It also said the demographic of secondary-age children was decreasing and it was "questionable" whether all three colleges would be able to compete with each other in the long-term.

In response, the colleges said "the existing approach and level of funding provides significant financial savings and long-term economic value to taxpayers".

They added: "Sustaining this funding is not merely an investment in education for a third of our secondary age children - it is a commitment to Guernsey's long-term prosperity."

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