Education Minister Daphne Caine has revealed the estimated cost of a three-year school validation contract in an email circulated to all Tynwald members.
The correspondence, shared with the media confirms the Department of Education, Sport and Culture’s (DESC) external validation programme will cost between £150,000 and £250,000 over its duration.
Mrs Caine’s email referenced recent scrutiny during Keys where she resisted disclosing exact figures due to the live contract.
She wrote: “I was grateful for the opportunity to put on record the concerns the Department has over the public interest not being served by publishing the exact cost of external validation when we are two years into a three-year contract.”
Range
However, acknowledging colleagues’ views, Mrs Caine added: “I note many felt it would be acceptable to provide a cost range.
“aving consulted further with colleagues and officers, and acknowledging that it is a live contract and the possible detriments that could result from publishing the exact figure, I can confirm that the total cost is between £150,000 and £250,000.”
The minister detailed that the sum covers all associated expenses, stating: “The price includes all costs of travel, accommodation and expenses of the external validation team plus compilation of the information collated following completion of external validation visits on each school or educational service, and the annual overviews.”
Mrs Caine emphasised the programme’s development phase, noting: “During the extended pilot to allow for full and meaningful consultation with unions, we have developed the quality assurance framework (that will be published in July) and provided feedback which seeks improvements to the information provided to parents/carers.”
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