GSLP-Liberals-Manifesto-2019

schools than ever before. This increase
and diversification of options is
expected to increase the number of
students who remain at school after
the age of 15. In order to assist these,
both those who want to pursue higher
education and those who will seek
employment, we will set up a schools
based careers advisory service. This
will be extended to advise Gibraltar
students studying abroad.
THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
The annual costs of the Government
Scholarship Scheme (originally
introduced by the GSLP in 1988) is
now approximately £18m. This is the
best possible investment we make
in our young people. In order to
ensure that we are able to continue
to afford to fund Scholarships in the
future for our young people, we will
create a new Rainy Day Fund which
will receive a part of each year’s
annual surplus as from the end of this
Financial Year 19/20, until the Fund
reaches approximately three years of
scholarship costs. Thereafter it will
be kept topped up by transfers from
the surplus to ensure that the sum
of the fund does not reduce in value
in real terms. This will guarantee that
Scholarships are available should there
be any years in the future when the
funding is not available from recurring
expenditure.
STUDENT RENTAL GUARANTOR
SUPPORT
Each year, around 1000 of you are in
the UK looking for accommodation
to further your studies. As your
future Government, we will explore
supporting you further through the
establishment of a ‘rental guarantor’
scheme. We will set-up a scheme
so you are not required to use up
significant portions of your grant
money to pay your entire rent up front.
We will look to implement a simple
referral & deductions system so you
can focus on your studies more, and
worry less about using up your grant
funding too quickly.
STUDENT GRANTS
The student maintenance grant will
increase every year by the rate of
inflation at least. In addition to the
huge Gibraltar-based investment in
local education this Government has
ensured that those studying abroad are
not forgotten. In line with our previous
manifesto commitments we have
increased the maintenance grant each
student receives, in line with inflation.
That means an increase of £460 for
those studying outside London and
£561 for those within London itself.
Under this GSLP/Liberals Government
education always comes first!
COMMUNITY BASED RESEARCH
We will explore opportunities to work
with the University of Gibraltar to
develop community-based research
projects using the latest technologies
available, including the use of watch
and smartphone sensor-gathered
data to better inform local health and
environmental initiatives.
LSAS
We commit to ensuring that our
primary schools have the support of
a Learning Support Assistant in every
class.
SCHOOL LUNCHES - £2
We are introducing Hot School Lunches
this term. For an initial trial period in
each school as they are introduced,
the lunches will be free for that term.
The children of those on low incomes
will never pay. The target price for a
hot meal per day will be £2. A system
will be designed so children do not
know who is getting meals free or paid
for to avoid the children of those on
low incomes being aware. Our school
meals will be nutritious, balanced with
vegetarian and vegan options as well as
catering for all religious requirements.
DYSLEXIA SUPPORT
We will champion awareness of
dyslexia, and provide dyslexia
screening and support for all
schoolchildren. Gibraltar has become
the first country in the world to sign
up to the Made By Dyslexia PLEDGE.
This is a commitment to recognise,
understand and support those with
dyslexia.
AUTISM – THE CALDWELL
INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S
CENTRE
We will establish a mechanism for
children with suspected autism to
attend the Caldwell International
Children’s Centre in the United
Kingdom to have an early diagnosis
and the best possible plan for their
future.
FREE EYE CHECKS UNTIL END OF
EDUCATION
Young people undergo transformative
changes to their vision throughout
their years in education. Under this
GSLP Liberals Government, we
commit to expanding the provision of
free healthcare further and exploring
the added possibility of FREE eye tests
for ALL Gibraltarian students in full
time education. Taking care of our next
generations will always be a priority
under this Government.
RESPECT YOUR TEACHER
The recent, now resolved, dispute
between the Government and the
teachers’ union has demonstrated
that some teachers do not realise how
valued they are in our community and
in the esteem of the Government. It
has also demonstrated that some in
our community do not appreciate just
how important our teachers are. We
will therefore work with teachers’
representatives to run a programme to
promote respect for teachers by pupils,
parents and the wider community.
...aspire to the best Gibraltar
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