The Ministry of Education is to conduct an audit to identify any gaps in earned credits amid staffing challenges faced in signature programmes.

Diallo Rabain made the announcement during an update on education reform in the House of Assembly today when he referred to recent reports in the press about teacher shortages for the courses at a signature school.

He spoke about a series of measures the Government plans to take in response to multiple concerns in education including staff discontent and communication problems.

The Royal Gazette reported last month that CedarBridge Academy had been without an engineering teacher since the school’s inception and that there were shortages in staff for cosmetology and science subjects — all sections of wider signature programmes.

Mr Rabain and Kenneth Caesar, the school’s principal, said then that they were confident the students would be able to attain their full credits, while a parent and teacher both spoke anonymously about concerns that would not be possible.

Mr Rabain said today: “As the minister, I take these complaints seriously and pledge to address them as they arise.

“While we celebrate our achievements, we recognise that the path is complex and full of obstacles.

“At times we have needed to pivot and adjust our approach to align more closely with our community’s demographics and cultural nuances.”

He added: “Recent experiences have underscored the importance of thoughtfully adapting to ensure a meaningful and lasting change.

“Some of these problems have been developed over years due to custom and practice, and we are looking to implement long-term fixes that are not able to be put into place instantly in some cases.

“When we can address these issues immediately, we will do so as quickly as possible. We must maintain open communication channels with union partners, educators, parents and students.

“Reform requires us to do the work of reforming while maintaining the continuity of the current system, and this is not a task that can be taken lightly.”

Mr Rabain spoke of various “tweaks” being made as a result of feedback received on education reform.

“We will be looking at how we communicate with parents and educators, and exploring new ways to ensure messages are effectively communicated,” he said.

“We will reassess how the Government’s committee meetings are conducted.

“We will continue to look at educator recruitment processes and how that can be improved and we will provide an audit of all current S3 signature school students to identify any gaps in earned credits related to signature programmes.”

Mr Rabain said that the ministry will provide regular updates through “revised means” in addition to multiple existing channels including social media, newsletters, and radio and community engagements.

He pointed to the Government website’s FAQs on the three to two-tier school plans as a tool to address concerns and clarify some changes ahead.

Mr Rabain also highlighted moves to accelerate the introduction of a new signature school for students with special needs.

Mr Rabain said that “in line with the Government’s commitment to inclusivity and equity” for all students, the plans for Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy would be brought forward “to support students and families better, and address the growing demand” there.

The Gazette recently reported that the school’s staff walked off the job over “safety” concerns, leaving parents to collect their children at short notice.

Dante Cooper, the general secretary of the Bermuda Union of Teachers, claimed that staff had their pay docked for advocating for the children.

The ministry has been asked for verification of this claim but the Gazette has not yet received responses. However, the ministry did say in a recent statement that “any unauthorised actions are being reviewed in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement“.

Mr Rabain said that teachers at Sandys Secondary Middle School took part in specialised training in the Cambridge Curriculum, which helped prepare them to deliver a senior-level education. The “upskilling” will continue into the 2024-25 school year.

He said that training for primary schoolteachers continued and added: “During the midterm October break, teachers from Purvis, Francis Patton, Elliot and Harrington Sound attended a session entitled Learning-Centred Curriculum Design and You led by the Education Reform Unit.

“This session strengthened teachers’ understanding of a learning-centred design approach and high-impact instructional practices that will enhance student engagement in parish schools.

“These sessions bring together teachers from established and transitioning schools to foster collaboration, strengthen support networks and promote consistent teaching standards across all parish primary schools.”

September 2025 marks the start of the five-year senior school programme, with Year 8 students from schools in Warwick and Hamilton Parish, and M2 students from all middle schools, beginning the new structure.

Mr Rabain said: “At the same time, the final group of M3 students will enter senior school under the current four-year model, marking them as the last intake for the four-year programme.

“All Year 8, M2 and M3 students recently participated in the signature taster programme organised by the ERU.

“This programme concluded with hands-on immersion events at Bermuda College, where students explored signature learning programme strands offered at The Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge Academy.

“Additionally, students attended open houses at each senior signature school, giving them an in-depth look at each school’s unique offerings.”

Mr Rabain also provided a recap of the next phases of the transition from a three-tier to two-tier education system from 2025 to 2027, laid out at an earlier press conference.

Plans for September 2025 including the halting of P1 intakes at St George’s Preparatory School and Somerset Primary School in preparation for their closure, the opening of parish schools at Harrington Sound Primary School and Elliot Primary School, and Sandys Secondary Middle School’s transition into the island’s third signature school.