Teachers and Ministry of Education officials will be held accountable to seven priorities outlined by the Ministry and the Board of Education.

School performance levels are to be published annually and released to stakeholders as a way to improve standards and there will be consequences if policies are not upheld.

The expectations were detailed in a five-year strategic plan launched on Good Friday. It set out a list of improvements demanded in such areas as teaching, transparency and leadership.

Implementing the Cambridge Curriculum is the Ministry's top priority. In 2007 the Hopkins Report said the Bermuda curriculum's inconsistency was causing problems for children who transferred schools.

The new curriculum will be put in place in all public schools in September. As stated in Government's Blueprint for Reform in Education, it will be used to teach English, math and science to students from primary school through to senior two.

It calls for teachers to "provide relevant resources and appropriate utilisation of assessment modes" and ensure that the Bermuda national curriculum for students from preschool through to senior four reflects international certification.

Teachers must ensure that all daily classroom instruction:

• effectively incorporates best practices that are student-centred;

• provides appropriate technology to engage and motivate students;

l develops and implements e-learning opportunities in multiple course areas.

The plan also calls for a five-year scheme to "recruit quality, qualified and certified candidates".

As its third priority the Ministry wants to strengthen leadership at the principal and the department level. Other priorities include creating a mentor principalship programme, providing schools with increased autonomy linked to student performance and recruiting and sustaining a leadership trainee programme.

To improve department leadership, education officers will collaborate with principals and assistant directors to ensure "quality leadership and remove low-performing personnel who do not improve after receiving intensive support".

In order to maximise the contribution of parents and the community, the Ministry will:

• develop meaningful partnerships with parents and the greater community;

• improve collaboration between agencies to better service mutual clients with a goal to improve student outcomes;

• establish a parent and community resource centre to improve communication between the department and families.

A final priority will focus on ensuring all school facilities meet health and safety standards for student learning and establishing trust, respect and positive relationships to increase student achievement.