Falklands : Public Meeting Report (24/01/06)
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 25.01.2006 (Article Archived on 08.02.2006)
Education was the focus of this month's meeting.
PUBLIC MEETING REPORT
By J. Brock (FINN)
The monthly public meeting with Councillors took place at 1700hrs on Tuesday,, 24 January 2006 in the Infant/Junior School Hall. The main purpose of the meeting was to receive a report from Director of Education; Sylvia Cole entitled “An Education Update, Challenges and Key issues for the future.”
Present were Councillors Richard Stevens (Chair), Mike Summers, Richard Davies, Janet Robertson, Andrea Clausen, Ian Hansen, Mike Rendell and Richard Cockwell. About 25 members of the public attended this two-part meeting that lasted 1.5 hours.
Mrs Cole spoke from notes and said that any success she had was a result of the efforts of all her staff.
She began by explaining about progress in the Training Centre, where more young people are seeking NVQs and apprenticeships than there were two years ago when she took up her post. Mrs Cole is pleased with the increase of students taking up apprenticeships and it proved the necessity and worth of the Training Centre.
Camp Education had to deal with declining numbers. There is a special issue with Fox Bay School and she stressed that in order to keep the school open there needs to be pupils in it. She felt the better learning environment was at home with parents. Camp Education staff was also dealing with older students in Camp going through secondary education and Mrs. Cole had high praise for her staff in doing this.
In the Stanley House Hostel a council had been set up so that residents could air their opinions about the food, facilities, recreation, rights and responsibilities – a wide variety of things. The hostel would be refurbished. Staffs were praised for their dealings with teens and difficult behaviour at times.
Funding for the Community Library had decreased but it is hoped that care would be taken to preserve the rare books and papers that were stored there.
Leisure Centre activities, machines and development continue with the Holiday programme becoming more popular each term. Problems with water quality and temperature had subsided this term, with the addition of an exercise room a welcome improvement.
For students comes the huge life’s decision of whether to chose a career that is good for the Falklands upon their return from higher education abroad, or a career that suits the individual student. There are larger numbers of students who want to go to the UK for academic education and that costs £11,000.00 each per student. University education can cost £20,000.00 per annum for students. If the Islands have an investment in a student’s education, then they want a return on that investment. That, however, is a costly and controversial solution.
Students’ attitudes have changed for the better in that they have adopted a more responsible approach. They have signed a contract and have made lectures and tutorials, where a few years ago there was a problem with this.
The Infant/Junior School continues to go from Strength to strength with the new Head, Mr. Nick Barrett, receiving a much improved report from the most recent School Inspection. In fact, all three areas – Camp Education, Infant/Junior School and FICS got improved reports over the last inspection. Schools’ action plans are in place and have improved terms and quality of the provision of education.
Student numbers in the Pre-School have increased with no places left in 2006 and only three places left for the 2007 intake.
Student behaviour needs to be addressed and hopefully parents will take responsibility for their Infant/Junior school children who are around the town at 2200 and causing problems. This behaviour needs a team approach and the School Head should not be the only person to take the heat for this.
The cost of marking Key Stage 1 (7 year olds) Key Stage 2 (10 year olds) and Key Stage 3 (14 Years old) and GCSEs will be paid by the education budget. It is important to have these papers marked overseas where they will be done impartially and fairly.
FICS got a good inspection report. However, the building, though it looks big, is not big enough and, with 280 pupils, if there were one or two people per class more, they could not cope. Something had to be done to put more classrooms in the building, so the aesthetics may have to go.
Mrs. Cole addressed the frequent suggestions that some “A” level classes could be conducted here in the Falklands. She explained that much of the “A” Level curriculum revolved around group discussion and that, due to the low numbers here, could not be achieved. There was, however, the emergence of a credible 6th Form for students who are too young to leave school after their GCSEs. After the 6th form, students have settled into the UK and have adjusted successfully. As it is, Peter Symonds offers 45 “A” Level courses but this kind of curriculum would not be available here.
Mrs. Cole broke here for questions and an exchange with Phil Middleton ensued with Mr. Middleton saying that he did not know who the School Managers were and what their agenda was. He pointed out that they had not met last term. Mr. Alan Purvis, who was away with his ill wife, the Late Marian Purvis, explained that the School Managers did not meet due to his compassionate leave from the Islands.
Mrs. Cole took onboard that agendas needed to be sent to parents before meetings like they do in Camp Education. Mr. Purvis mentioned that generally the School Managers met once a term but he had pushed for twice a term until he had to leave.
As for who attends and who does not, Mrs. Cole explained that some decisions had to be taken professionally and that with parents and others present the quality of the decisions was compromised. However, Mrs. Cole, Mr. Purvis, Mr. Barrett and Mr. Fogerty had open doors and parents could come and see them.
Mrs. Cole continued her presentation with a listing of the big issues that School Managers and her staff had dealt with. There was the Mobile Phone issue with a complete ban recommended. Video facilities on mobile phones could be used by child porn enthusiasts and this is why they have been banned from the leisure centre as well as all schools.
The second big issue is, “Who pays for education?” With the budget decreases, was it the Government, the parents or the student. Decisions would be taken in favour of funding a student who wants to have a career in the Falklands with relevant education and skills. Less funding would be available for students wanting to be tree surgeons, for example.
A minority of students have behavioural problems and need to be put out of classrooms where other students want to learn. One encounter with an unruly student can spoil a whole lesson. Here in the Falklands there are five students who fit into this category and a referral unit has been suggested to deal with them in a short period of time – 10 weeks is suggested.
The last big issue would be if only a certain number of qualified students could go overseas for “A” Levels and University classes. The budget constraints provoked a look at this scenario and it is possible that those students being funded would have to be means-tested as well. One of the things that has improved is that students, parents and teachers have expectations. When these increase, a higher motivation and better qualifications result.
Questions about the special referral unit brought comment that while there was a small number of students that cause a problem, if student numbers increase there could be more. Mrs. Cole said that students are wanting to learn and if a teacher has to spend time with one unruly child, the whole class suffers. Something had to be done to help the unruly child and change inappropriate behaviour. A short-term referral unit where the student worked on assigned projects would help to re-integrate the student back into the classroom.
The question of student lockers brought the response that staff could not ensure the safety of all the students belongings. Students did not lock up and their belongings had been tampered with. When the problem is solved the students would re-gain the use of the lockers.
Dr. Barry Elsby asked how educational funding would be brought forward and Cllr. Summers said a paper was going to EXCO in due course. The whole issue of means testing students and/or their parents would be discussed.
After Mrs Cole left the meeting continued with those attending wanting to talk about other subjects than the one planned. Former Councillor Stephen Luxton expressed dismay that the police investigation cost so much. He wondered how much the second visit would cost FIG. Cllr Summers said that it wouldn’t cost FIG anything as the police team came voluntarily to do a follow-up visit.
Both former Councillors Luxton were present, with Stephen Luxton and Bill Luxton bringing up the subject of the new experimental ferry service. Mr. Bill Luxton wondered what the affects of having 3 ports would be. Fuel would need to be delivered. Cllr Mike Rendell said that Stanley Services Ltd wanted to see a private company take over fuel delivery in the west.
Dr. Elsby wanted to know what the criteria for the ferry was and would it be used for social, tourism or freight. Cllr Summers acknowledged that the West was gradually going down and Bill Luxton stated that a trial basis was not the reality that would come if the service was initiated. Cllr. Summers felt that development would be a knock-on affect from the trial service.
As a general comment, the comments over the abattoir and rural roads ran negatively until people began to make money. Indeed, on a farm visit on Sunday, Councillors were told that the abattoir accounted to over half of some farm incomes. Similar opportunities could come from the proposed ferry.
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