Pre-school cuts 'lesser of two evils'

The minister for education and children says the decision to close the Island's pre-school units was the only way to avoid more damaging cuts elsewhere.

Peter karran says he agreed to end government-funded nursery education to prevent 'savage inroads' in primary and secondary provision.

He says with only around half the Island's pre-schoolers served in what had become a 'postcode lottery', future plans to provide funding so parents can buy their children places in the private sector may prove a fair solution.

Mr Karran says in the current tough economic climate hard choices are inevitable: