Mr. Pat Goff:

A number of points were raised. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked if we would support returning statistics. We would support this, 100%. Schools and principals feel they have nothing to hide. We would rather be transparent and open about everything we do. Deputies Catherine Martin and Jan O'Sullivan asked if it is always in agreement with parents. I would be very surprised if a child was put on a reduced day at the first meeting the principal and teacher has had with the parent. Normally we would have been working through an individual education plan, IEP, for that child. As was pointed out earlier, if the reduced day is not a last resort, it should not be used. I would say there would have been many meetings prior to a meeting to discuss reduced timetables. The question then arises as to whether there is still conflict or whether a parent agrees with it. Unfortunately in such cases, the only alternative for the school is a suspension. That is possibly what would have happened if there was not a reduced timetable in that case.

I agree on home schooling but it also needs to be monitored. We would not like to see home schooling take the place of school.