New education Minister Peter Karran MHK believes cuts have been made too deep and too fast in his department.
Liberal Vannin leader Mr Karran said the biggest surprise for him since taking up his ministerial posting was the scale of the cutbacks that have already been made by his predecessor Eddie Teare, who is now Treasury minister.
Mr Karran said: ‘The cuts have come too quick and too fast.
‘The Isle of Man has a far better education system, staffed and resourced, than the UK. But it is not now as good as it was. It’s a difficult time but education should be special case.’
While the government has sought to protect education spending, the department’s agreed budget has actually fallen significantly in the past three years, from £104 million in 2009-10 to £99 million in 2010-11 and down again to £95.5 million in the current financial year.
Adjustment to loan charges has softened the blow but the department’s budget has still been cut by 4.4 per cent overall – and pay rises and inflation have had to be absorbed into that figure.
Teachers’ pay, which is set in the UK, rose by 2.3 per cent in 2010, 2.3 per cent the year before and 2.45 per cent in 2008 as part of a three-year deal but since April a pay freeze has been in force.
Savings have been achieved by reducing central teams by 18.5 posts. Staffing costs make up 73 per cent of the department’s revenue budget.
In schools, staffing costs have been reduced mainly through retirement and redeployment although there have been seven voluntary redundancies – one in 2010 and six this year.
A total of 44 posts were lost last year but 38 of the staff affected were redeployed.
This year a further 42 posts were made redundant and 34 staff redeployed with a further two kept on to provide cover on a temporary basis.
But education bosses say it is now not possible to reduce school staffing any further.
Other savings have been achieved by cutting the length of the school swimming year, reducing the opening hours of youth clubs and capping supply teacher pay.
Moving headquarters from St George’s Court to Hamilton House has saved a further £200,000 a year.
Merging the administration of the International Business School and Isle of Man College is progressing and is expected to make significant cost savings.
Mr Karran has previously branded the International Business School as a costly white elephant.
Does he still hold that view?
He said: ‘The IBS is just another in a long list of issues that I raised in parliament over the block vote of the executive.
‘The problems I’ve inherited are not as big as those I inherited as chairman of the Water Authority. But the difference now is the world recession and the fact that you’ve got to make things stretch that bit further.’