“Fee-paying school subsidies could be cut” – Minister

Wednesday 18 March 2015

The money that the States pump into fee-paying schools could be reduced as the States fight to balance the books, the Youth Assembly has been told.

Answering questions in the States Chamber yesterday, Assistant Education Minister Philip Bailhache said that reducing the subsidies to Victoria College, Jersey College for Girls, De La Salle and Beaulieu was one of the options on the table.

In 2013, the subsidies were worth a total of £5.5 million – or around 13% of the Education department’s non-staff expenditure. Any cuts to that amount would leave schools having to decide whether to cut back on spending or raise fees.

The department – like all others – is facing the prospect of having to make efficiency cuts of around 1% or 2% every year to help fill the structural deficit that experts think has been created by the gap between States spending and taxation.

And in response to a question from De La Salle student Ben Jehan in yesterday’s Youth Assembly session in the States, Senator Bailhache said that although it was too early for a definitive answer, cuts to private school subsidies were a possibility.

He said: “We are in the early stages of the budget-savings process.

“Like other States departments, Education Sport and Culture has done some work to identify possible options. At this point, all areas of ESC are being considered, including a reduction in the States’ contribution to school fees at Victoria College, Jersey College for Girls, De La Salle and Beaulieu is one of many options that will be considered.

“Any reduction in the level of the States contribution would be kept to a minimum in order to minimise the impact on schools and pupils as much as possible.”