PAULA COX:

Ms Cox is hopeful of a brighter future for Bermuda's education system after witnessing the community and Government get on the same page over the threatened closure of five primary schools.

She says Education Minister Elvin James has built bridges with angry parents since a leaked document early this year showed Government was considering shutting East End Primary, Prospect Primary, Gilbert Institute, Heron Bay Primary and Dalton E. Tucker Primary.

Following community uproar, a few weeks later Government announced no closures in its five-year plan for improving the Island's schools.

And Ms Cox says the reunified spirit is the kind of action that can raise performance from the Island's much-maligned schools system.

"Like many things in the process of change, what's good to note is that, despite some of the original onset and sound and fury expressed, people seem to have a willingness to put their shoulder to the wheel and get on with doing the job — parents seem supportive — once you talk to people and get them involved," she said.

"Parents were mobilising because of an inadvertent e-mail. The Ministry and Government were put under some pressure. By the process of the Minister going into the community, talking to parents, talking to PTAs, reassuring their concerns, we turned the volume down.

"Now, in terms of talking to the Minister, we notice it's become less of a hot issue. People want to see it work. People are putting their shoulders to the wheel."

She says progress should also come through the adopting of internationally recognised benchmarks and standards.

"I think there's clearly a better outlook. I think the various reviews, the Hopkins Review, the move to an international curriculum, onionising of international standards, the certification of teachers, will all help," she said.