GSD's Edwin Reyes predicts shortfalls in Budget address

Opposition spokesman Edwin Reyes has questioned the figures raised by the Minister for Education.  He predicts shortfalls in the estimates for schools’ facilities’ management, on the prediction for Maternity/Paternity leave cover and on the money set aside for temporary sickness cover.

In his budget address he asked whether the Government is trying to show a fictitious rosy picture of the future instead of reality.

Edwin Reyes shadows Sport, Education and Culture.

Education

Edwin Reyes began his address by saying he could not stress enough the Government’s need to ensure it got it absolutely right when planning and building new schools.  But, he also highlighted the need to ensure existing school premises were properly maintained.

He asked the Education Minister to ensure it worked as closely as possible with classroom teachers, alongside his senior management teams.  Classroom teachers, he said, want to be part of any process that encompases the educational system and want to be involved in meaningful consultation before final decisions are taken.

Mr Reyes raised the issue of apprenticeships and of the need to cater for students who do not wish to pursue an academic career.  Gibraltar, he said, should be prepared for anything the future throws and this includes having the necessary craftsmen and technicians properly trained and qualified for any eventuality.

“We should plan ahead and review coursesbeing offered in our Secondary Schools so that qualifications earned will serve to prepare today’s pupils to become the skilled workforce which Gibraltar will need for tomorrow – more so as the future will be dominated by digital technology.  The GSD have raised the concept of modern apprenticeships in the past and we still believe we need to offer more in this field than we currently provide.  Those pupils who do not wish to pursue an academic future need to be provided with the opportunity of a modern apprenticeship programme which, if properly structured, has the same standing as higher education.  We need to create a gold standard for an apprenticeship programme so that employers have confidence in the system.  The time for investment is now - not just in formal academic education heading towards entry into higher education establishments like universities, but also in the coordination of training and skills through vocational courses that carry international accreditation.”

On university scholarships, Mr Reyes asked for clarification on the mandatory and discretionary grants and for the Government to explain whether certain schools had been discriminated against.

He raised issues such as pupil behaviour, phones in schools and asked about plans for a school on the Eastside.

The GSD, he said had been critical of Government spending, but he claimed this was not about austerity but about prioritising spending in areas where the community would benefit the most.  Teaching- he added is one such area.

Sport

Under his portfolio for sport he supported the Government’s policy to assist all sporting bodies overcome any politically inspired attempt to block membership of International sporting bodies.  He welcomed that Gibraltar Rugby had been given a favourable International court ruling and are on course to becoming members of the International governing body.

On football, he said the GSD agrees Gibraltar needs a new stadium but said they had serious misgivings about the project as envisaged, highlighting the government loans to the GFA.  He also raised, what he terms are, concerns that the needs for football development are not being met, as well as concerns that the training facilities for other sports are inadequate.

National Theatre

Edwin Reyes also spoke about the plans for a National Theatre for Gibraltar saying that with the development project now falling under the planning remit of a charitable trust, the House had lost sight of projected costs. He asked whether there will be a substantial government financial investment towards the theatre.

Mr Reyes also questions whether the government will commit itself to a definitive date by when theatre lovers may enjoy performances at, what he terms, a new and much needed theatre.