21/11/2011 BBC Channel Islands News

Good evening, welcome to the BBC in Turning Jersey into a centre of

excellence and avoiding the cuts - the new Education Minister's plan

for the island's schools. I won't be supporting anything which

compromises the education of our children. Also, the costly games -

could the next Island Games in Bermuda be out of reach for our

sporting stars? And kicking the habits - how

improving your driving can save Jersey's new Education Minister

believes the island should aim to be a centre of skills excellence.

In his first interview with the BBC after taking on the role, Deputy

Patrick Ryan says investment in training and apprenticeships is key.

But it comes at a time the department has to make over �7

million worth of savings, which the Minister hasn't ruled out avoiding.

These are the faces that'll be running Jersey for the next three

years. Today the Council of Ministers were settling into their

roles. And it'll be easier for some than others, because there are just

three new members. In particular, Deputy Patrick Ryan has a tough

task. As one of the least experienced, he has one of the

biggest jobs, running the education department. It is a huge job. I am

a very proud and honoured to be given this job. It has been a

difficult period of time the recently. One of the main problems

has been how school performance has been measured, particularly GCSE

results. Add to that the need to cut more than �7 million which has

stalled, and this man certainly hasn't got it easy. While he

indicated that he will keep Jersey's selective system as it is,

he's talking about spending money not saving it. We may need to think

about investing more money if we are to become the centre of skills

excellence I would like the island to become. That is the future for

us in Western society. Up first would be investment in vocational

training and apprenticeship schemes like these at Highlands College.

Deputy Ryan admits getting extra cash won't be easy in tough times,

when all departments have been asked to make savings. But he

believes the future is our education system and investment in

Children could again get free milk in school in Jersey if a new

campaign is successful. Last year the States withdrew funding for

school milk, but it could now be paid for privately. The Milk

Matters campaign, which is backed by Jersey Dairy, wants businesses

to sponsor a school, as part of their support for the community.

Six people were arrested and charged with drink driving in

Jersey over the weekend. Police say they were stopped as part of

routine police patrols or after collisions, and that it's worrying

so many drivers were caught on one weekend. The vast majority of

islanders drive lawfully and legally and don't get involved in

drink driving. However, the concern remains that a small minority are

not getting the message that if you do drink and drive you will be

caught and held to account. It's one of the jewels in the Channel

Islands sporting calendar. The next Island Games is being held in

Bermuda, but fears are emerging that some teams may not be able to

afford to travel there to compete. Mike Wilkins reports. It's the

place many athletes have been dreaming of competing at. The sun-

drenched island of Bermuda is hosting the Island Games in 2013.

But it's going to be the most expensive games ever. Bermuda has

instigated a document asking what our intentions are. Whilst this is

a lot earlier than the normal games, this is important for us to relive

conference to our sports that there competition will take place. At the

moment... There is a risk a particular sport may not take place.

Jersey and Guernsey enjoyed great success at the last Island Games.

But this time round both are taking smaller teams, with Guernsey's

football team a notable absentee. have had feedback from other rivals.

They are likely to send small teams. We are likely to send smaller teams.

If we can cut back, that will help. We will pay for the medical team. A

smaller team may mean a smaller medical staff. It's estimated that

each athlete needs to raise between �2,000-3,000 to help pay for

transport and hotels, something which will test the bigger teams.

Guernsey's volleyball team has already started raising funds.

majority of the costs will have to be borne by the players. To do that,

we are putting in place at deposit system so the players have to pay a

certain amount each month to afford it. The athletes want to compete

with the best, but unless more teams start raising the funds,

there won't be many for the crowds to cheer on in Bermuda.

You're watching the BBC in the Channel Islands. Later in Spotlight

with Justin and Victoria, confused by the weather - the flowers

tricked into blooming because of Stay tuned for that, and the

weather forecast later. Now, how good a driver are you? Do you

always follow the old mirror- signal-manoeuvre adage? Well

apparently not all of us do. Road safety officers in Jersey say most

of us have picked up bad, or even dangerous habits since passing our

tests. So they're inviting people to have their driving assessed by

professional instructors this weekend. Presenter Clare Burton had

her skills put to the test this morning - here's how she got on.

I've been driving for 13 years now on UK and Jersey roads, and I'm

pretty sure I'm a competent driver. But we all probably think that -

and we're probably all a bit biased. John is going to put me through my

paces. Wish me luck. Indicate left on the junction before the one you

want. -- one junction. I lady wants to cross the road. She has got a

pushchair. The signalled that you actually put on to turn left was

pointless. It was far too late. I have got to say, coming along the

road, its slopes down towards the roundabout. You held it nice the

back at 30 mph. -- nicely. Look at your speed a matter. Beefing up a

little bit. Sorry! Slower. Nice and gently. That was a bit nerve-

racking. I think I did OK. Only one way to find out. How did I do?

the wider scheme of things you actually did quite well. There were

a couple of things we pointed out as we went around. Things to think

about. Overall it was pretty good. What is my score? If this had being

a public assessment, I would have giving you about 90%. That is

pretty good. Do you think a lot of people would be like me, that they

have picked up some bad habits? That is the problem. People pass

their driving test usually went they're round about the age of 17.

Nobody then looks at their driving. You are encouraging people to

submit themselves to this Test on Saturday. If they are bad, can you

take their licence away? No. We have not got that kind of power. We

will let them nowhere they stand. John, thank you. If you are up for

submitting yourself to the harsh critique, you can go to Jackson's

in St Peter on Saturday. Rather Clare than me. Now the weather with

Clare than me. Now the weather with Helen. Hello, good evening. A lot

of cloudy and damp weather heading our way in the next 24 hours. At

the moment we have a weather front to the West. That heads closer in

towards us by lunchtime tomorrow. It does start to fragment. Afridi

we system. It brings cloud and some cloud. High pressure builds in. It

looks like a quieter end to the week. Overnight tonight there will

be a good deal of cloud, some outbreaks of rain. Generally

becoming drier through the early hours of tomorrow morning. It will

be a reasonably mild night. 11 or 12 Celsius. That cloud stage with

us through much of the day tomorrow. We can see patchy rain at times. 14

Celsius the top temperature. The forecast for the coastal waters

tomorrow, winds would be from the south. They will become variable

through the middle part of the day. Occasional rain. Visibility

generally moderate. The times of For the surface, there will be

about two to three feet of swell. Generally very messy conditions.

Here is the outlook. A lot of cloud on Tuesday with patchy rain. Still

we have that relatively mild air. Temperatures around 14. It starts

to turn cooler when the rain clears. Wednesday looking like the coolest