It’s time we considered the students

These are not necessarily wealthy people, but those whose incomes – often with both parents working full-time – mean that they have been able to consider the fee-paying sector as well as States schools.

For some, continuity of education will be an important factor in choosing a school. This can be guaranteed in the fee-paying sector, but it disappeared in the States system with the abolition of the 11-plus examination. In many cases continuity, rather than out-and-out quality of education, will have been the crucial in the choice of a suitable school.

Other parents are particularly eager to see their children attend faith schools, which have no public sector equivalent in Jersey, though they are government-funded in the UK.

But suddenly the boat has been severely and unexpectedly rocked. The proposed removal of subsidies for private education threatens to limit choice and to force parents of limited means to move their children into the States system.

So far, most of the debate on the changes that Education Minister James Reed would like to see has focused on the economic implications of his plans – for the exchequer and for the individuals involved. With such abrupt change on the cards, it is high time that the interests of students were set on a par with, or preferably higher than, the consideration of pounds and pence.

It is possible that a compelling case can be made for the withdrawal of public subsidies for private education – though it must be emphasised that this cast-iron case has yet to be made. However, even if the imperative to cut budgets wins the day, there are clear alternatives to cutting funding at a stroke.

It would, for example, be possible to reduce funding in a series of steps. It would also be possible to delay change so that the expectation of continuity of education would be fulfilled for children currently in the system and, of course, their parents.

It is beyond question that these are difficult times and that difficult steps must be taken if the Island is to return to balanced budgets and government is to ensure future prosperity.

That said, acceptable policies cannot possibly be allowed to include suddenly plucking children from among their friends and from familiar environments, let alone jeopardising the quality of their education.