Education Minister Daphne Caine faced pressure to publish the island’s school inspection framework after it emerged one school has already put part of it on its website.
The Quality Assurance Framework, currently being piloted, won’t be made public until July – a decision the Minister defends as necessary to complete the trial period.
However, Ballakermeen High School has already published sections of the framework on its website, prompting criticism from backbenchers.
Lawrie Hooper (Lib Vannin, Ramsey) challenged the decision, asking: “How can parents understand school performance when the assessment criteria remain secret? If one school can publish it, why can’t the government?”
Mrs Caine said: “The department is unable to publish a copy until such time as the pilot part of the external validation process is complete.
“This was our undertaking and commitment, and we are honouring that.”
The controversy comes as several schools have already undergone assessment under the unpublished framework, though Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) did note that the brief results of those which have been published are rather generic.
Chris Thomas MHK also called the document to be published immediately, saying: “Transparency shouldn’t require forcing the Minister’s hand.”
Mrs Caine responded to the criticised by reiterate rating that the framework “will be published by the end of July, the final framework, which is then what all schools will be assessed against”.
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