Some might say his task to overhaul the failing public school system is close to impossible.

But for new Board of Education chairman Darren Johnston, it's something that needs to be done to make a better Bermuda.

A passion for education and a desire to see students succeed led him to accept the position.

As chairman Mr. Johnston will unveil a five-year plan for education in 2010, which he hopes will address all of the issues in the public school system.

"It's an area that we have to fix if this Country's going to be successful in the future," said Mr. Johnston, a managing partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. "I went to Berkeley Institute and had an excellent public school experience. It's part of the reason that I'm doing this.

"I think we have sufficient resources, I think we have sufficient intellectual capacity... what's missing is getting everybody on the same page and heading in the same direction."

The board's plan addresses improvements in curriculum, infrastructure and accountability.

"We are in the process of engaging with key stakeholders," said Mr. Johnston. "We have met with leadership in the Ministry of Education, principals and teachers and are meeting with [Parent-Teacher Associations]. What's important to note is that it's a five-year path. We may have a trip along the way as we implement it [but] at the end of five years, we'll have the outcomes that we want."

The 2007 Hopkins Report which investigated the state of the public school system, described it as being "on the brink of meltdown". It has been argued that little improvement has been made since.

"The public school system is not producing enough students at the levels that we all [would] hope that it produces," said Mr. Johnston. "I am sure there are certain students that are coming through the system and are doing OK, but it's not a high enough number.

"One of the things that you have to remember is that research shows that parents have a significant importance. The fact is that if we are going to have an optimal system we need to find a way for parents to play a greater role."

Mr. Johnston supports the Cambridge Curriculum now being phased into Government schools as it sets "an international standard" of achievement.

Bermuda's private schools recorded GCSE scores of 79 percent and above. At the Island's public schools, the Berkeley Institute rate was 45.7; CedarBridge Academy was 43.8.

Private school students are required to sit GCSEs while public school students have the option.

"Students in the public system actually are asked to deal with more, from a curriculum [perspective], than those from private. Public systems have a greater demand, have a greater challenge, because they're not doing one curriculum that's geared towards GCSEs.

"The new curriculum will offer the ability to write more on exam boards some may take technical boards, some will do [International Baccalaureate]."

The Cambridge Curriculum will initially be offered in English, math and science. A curriculum committee will determine whether the Bermuda School Certificate will be kept.

Mr. Johnston said: "That should narrow what teachers have to teach, which hopefully should be more effective to teach the curriculum."

This year's total graduation rates were 81 percent for Berkeley and 78 percent for CedarBridge.

"I don't think anybody can be happy with the rate of retention that we currently have," Mr. Johnston said.

Last month Government released a study, 'On the Wall or on the Margins? A study of employment, earnings and educational attainment gaps between young black men and their same-aged peers'. Researched and compiled by Columbia University professor Ronald Mincy, it found that more than 50 percent of young black men drop out of high school.

"It also found the majority of young black males are being encouraged to enter technical fields because they express an interest in using their hands and being their own bosses — something that can result in them earning less than their black female and white male peers.

Asked what he attributed the results of the study to, Mr. Johnston said: "I cannot profess to give you a single answer with that. When you're talking about young persons, you're talking about their home environment, their social environment, their education environment and all of those things here influence on their outcome. And whilst I am a tremendous believer in the power of education, part of the answer in getting Bermuda where it needs to get to is addressing these other areas.

"What I do know is that in our go-forward plans, we have to deal with the fact that a portion of our population is at greater risk. And we'll have to get people that have different perspectives on how to address that population within the school system. I think part of the solution is outside the school system and that's going to take a great community effort."

Mr. Johnston plans to serve as board chairman for the next three years. His objective is to see the goals of the five-year plan met before he leaves.

"Restructuring the department to help it achieve its objectives is important to the reform process but that doesn't mean that you don't have assistant directors and directors."