Insufficient management plans have contributed to mould and other infrastructure issues currently plaguing the public school system, the minister of education says.

Cole Simons addressed the issue as part of a press conference held earlier today to discuss the educational components of the party’s platform, unveiled on Monday.

“As long as I have been in politics, there has never been a facilities management team within the Department of Education to address our campuses,” the minister said.

The comments come following issues surrounding mould and bird mites in at least three schools in recent months.

Last month, the president of the Bermuda Union of Teachers Shannon James said that widespread mould was the main reason behind the closure of Dellwood Middle School. Previously, TN Tatem Middle School was forced to close in December and relocate to Clearwater Middle School because of mould, while Harrington Sound Primary School children were off for several days due to a bird mite infestation in May.

Mr Simons said that there were operational and management issues that would be addressed if the party was given another mandate by the people.

“I will take ownership of that process myself,” he said.

Work, he said, would continue in implementing the recommendations contained within the School Reorganisation Advisory Committee (SCORE) report completed in December 2015.

Asked how much had been earmarked for infrastructure issues, Mr Simons said: “It is my endeavour to have a refurbishment plan for each school going forward.”

A national plan would also be created, he said.

Remediation work would be taking place this summer, Mr Simons said, as part of a joint effort involving Works and Engineering, health and safety officers, and the Department of Education.

Additional specifics were not immediately provided.

Discussing the mould issue, Lynne Woolridge, party chair, said that it was important to consider Bermuda’s climate.

“We wouldn’t close up our homes and trap in the dampness — we’d air them out periodically,” she said.

“And this is what needs to happen in our schools.”

The problem, she said, didn’t begin when the OBA took power in 2012.

Mr Simons described education as “one of the most important issues” facing the country in the coming election.

“Everyone in Bermuda wants an education system that works,” he said.

The system, he said, should provide students with the basic skills and knowledge to “find their place in a challenging world”.

“We want to produce good citizens and good people,” he added.

“I believe this plan encompasses and embraces all elements of Bermuda’s young people’s needs to move forward in life, and to develop their full potential.”

The party’s plan is contained under three banners: supporting students from their first days through to graduation, expanding technical education, and “making the system work”.

Mr Simons also discussed the party’s pledge to investigate the concept of an educational authority, similar to the Bermuda Tourism Authority.

“I think we owe it to ourselves to explore any idea that could strengthen such a vital area of Bermuda life,” he said.

Ms Woolridge said she believed that education must stop focusing solely on what happens in the classroom, and judging success based on money spent.

“Teachers are fantastic resources, but they can’t be expected to work miracles,” she said.

“We can provide them with tools to help children learn, but the home environment also factors greatly in terms of the potential for success.”

The creation of a stand-alone Centre of Teaching Excellence would help support teachers in this end, she said.

Nick Kempe, candidate for Pembroke West Central, said he was excited by the party’s proposed “Reach out and Read” initiative.

Working with paediatricians and physicians, the programme would provide books for toddlers and reading coaches for new parents.

“This provides access to literacy for those children who might come from homes without a strong reading tradition,” he said.

As part of the party’s promised expansion of technical education, Mr Kempe also outlined plans to implement the City and Guilds curriculum in middle schools starting this fall, and the expansion of apprenticeship opportunities for youths by offering tax incentives to employers.

• Comments are closed on political content from July 4 to 19 to stem the flow of purposefully inflammatory and litigious comments during the General Election cycle. Users who introduce extreme partisan comments into other news content will be banned.