Meet the parents

Friday 13 January 2017

Angry parents have told a scrutiny panel the current further education grants system isn’t working and is causing untold financial hardship.

At a specially organised workshop to gather evidence for a major review of the current system, parents poured out their concerns to the panel.

Many said grandparents were being forced to sell their houses to help fund further education. There were also stories of families cashing in pensions, or having to make heart-breaking decisions over which of their children they could afford to fund. Many at the workshop said family stress was at an all time high, and that their children were being made to feel they were a financial burden.

Concerns were also raised of a ‘brain drain’ with people not wanting to return to the Island leading to a ‘dumbed down Jersey’. It was felt nothing was being done to encourage youngsters to advance themselves and return home to use their skills because they felt their children would be academically disadvantaged in the future.

Many told the panel it was only at the last moment that they found out how the system works and that they were suddenly surprised to find there was no money available to them. There were calls for parents and youngsters to be informed at the beginning of secondary school rather than on the eve of their departure to tertiary education.

The overwhelming opinion of those at the workshop was a new structure needs to be put in place where parents, students and the States all help to cover the costs of fees and maintenance. Currently grants are means tested, and there is no access to a loans system, or for local students to take advantage of the UK grants system.

The parents’ evening follows a similar evening organised for students earlier in the month. Next in the panel’s sights is the Education minister himself. He’s appearing before the panel later today.