Education Minister Daphne Caine has told Tynwald her department found out about changes to child/adult ratio changes on the Steam Packet when everyone else did
She was asked about the educational implications of the changes by Onchan MHK Julie Edge.
Mrs Caine told members that the department had no prior discussions with the Steam Packet before the changes were made.
The minister said that she wrote to Steam Packet MD Brian Thomson asking him to review the policy which essential means there has to be one adult for every five children on a group trip booking.
Her department’s own policy is one adult per 10 children plus one additional adult of the whole group.
Discrepancy
She said: “The department has made the steam packet aware that this discrepancy between our policy and their updated requirements poses challenges for organising school trips, explaining that it necessitates a higher number of accompanying adults than schools would typically allocate.
“The department also advised that if the steam packets declared position on these ratios remain the same. Our Island schools may not be in a position to facilitate any school trips off island.”
She added that the department did ask the Steam Packet to change its policy, but it advised that it was not in a position to change the policy “as it has been put in place with the health and safety of passengers and crew in mind”.
Mrs Caine also noted that she hopes the company and the department can reach an agreement going forward.
Ms Edge noted that this has already impacted businesses on island with groups cancelling planned trips to the island to visit the Venture Centre.
Tim Glover (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) asked the minister if this was a “failure” by the company not to engage, but she wouldn’t be drawn on that.
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