PERMANENT Secretary for Education Rosemary Tyrrell yesterday defended a controversial education method at CedarBridge Academy recently criticised as a useless learning tool by a departing teacher.

Ms Tyrrell insisted that the senior school had seen "encouraging initial results" since the Quantum Learning programme was initiated in 2003 and urged parents not to have their opinion of it coloured by the views of one disgruntled educator.

Further, she praised headmaster Kalmar Richards for "encouraging her teachers to adopt practices which more fully engage students in their studies", citing the programme as an example of that.

"I want to make it clear that this Ministry stands by the CedarBridge Academy principal and teachers in their efforts to improve student achievement," said Ms Tyrrell.

"Mrs. Richards has set high expectations for the CedarBridge Academy family, which includes students, parents and teachers."

ran an article last week citing the anonymous teacher's dissatisfaction with Quantum Learning, a programme she described as the most expensive of the many which are in place at the Prospect senior school.

"We have more programmes running in our school than most colleges, but which ones are truly working and which are not, is something the school has no interest in determining," lamented the teacher, who is said to be leaving the secondary institution.

"In all my years of teaching, I've found the most successful programmes in schools have always relied on solid, empirical evidence to warrant adaptation and implementation ? not to mention expense.

"Where is the evidence that proves that Quantum Learning is truly effective? If Quantum Learning has proven to be so successful in improving grades and test scores, where is the data from all the students in the GCSE programmes? That information cannot be corrupted at the local level. What about the data from the American system such as the Terra Nova?"

Quantum Learning is comprised of a series of methods which take into consideration the different learning styles of students. Through its practices, "teachers are empowered and trained to utilise role-playing, visual, and audio aids, to engage the students."

Ms Tyrrell highlighted the success of the programme yesterday while pointing out that "disgruntled staff could be found in every workforce in Bermuda".

She said that at least four teachers had come forward in support of Quantum Learning at CedarBridge and that the Ministry of Education was now conducting a long-term assessment of it.

In the meantime, she said she encouraged "rigorous, honest and well-intentioned" criticism from teachers.

"I, for one, have an open-door policy and am quite happy to sit with any teacher in the system to listen to their concerns. I commend those teachers who are embracing new methods which research indicated constitute sound practice which delivers results.

"Do we have problems in education? Yes we do. But I am confident that we are pulling out all the stops to resolve the issues and raise student achievement levels."