School infrastructures have crumbled, ministers have repeatedly been chopped and changed, and students’ ever-evolving technological needs, according to many, have been neglected.

The past decade has not been particularly kind to Bermuda’s public education system, no matter whether the Progressive Labour Party or the One Bermuda Alliance has been in power.

A growing feeling has emerged that education must become a top priority for whoever wins next week’s General Election — or even taken out of the hands of politicians altogether.

The OBA has pledged to explore the concept of an education authority to “remove the politics and provide consistent professional and accountable leadership to our public education system”, while the PLP pledges to “minimise political interference, by empowering educational professionals”.

Such an idea finds favour with Danielle Riviere, a former member of the School Reorganisation Committee, and the PTA president at West Pembroke School, who believes that fat needs to be cut on a ministry level.

“With every report that comes out, it has been said that we have a top-heavy ministry that is relatively ineffective,” Ms Riviere told The Royal Gazette.

She suggested an education authority could produce results like many say the Bermuda Tourism Authority has done.

Ms Riviere said: “I am all for an authority because if that comes into place what needs to happen at a ministry level will hopefully take place.

“If leadership can change, then hopefully the dissemination and the ability to listen to those who are delivering the services will change.

“But it is also important that the right people are doing the right job. Look at the BTA — when they transferred from the ministry they fired everyone and everyone had to reapply and be placed in a position that was adequate for what their capabilities are.”

Last year, the spotlight was turned on the crumbling infrastructure across Bermuda’s 18 primary schools with the publication of the damning School Reorganisation Report commissioned by Wayne Scott, the minister at the time. Both parties now say a priority is to deal with infrastructure.

The lack of modern technology in public schools was also highlighted in the report, including the basics such as wi-fi.

Both the OBA and PLP have pledged to ensure wi-fi is available across all public schools while Steam learning has been listed as priority areas.

Ms Riviere said she agrees with the implementation of Steam-based learning but hopes that resources are properly considered.

“There is a huge benefit of having Steam within our schools but that means having it properly resourced because you can’t introduce another programme and hand it to the teachers who are already stretched,” she said.

The frequent changing of ministers has been a constant theme under both parties. The PLP saw three in its last term: Randy Horton (2006), Elvin James (2008), and Dame Jennifer Smith (2010), while the OBA racked up four during its term — Nalton Brangman (2012); Grant Gibbons (2013); Wayne Scott (2015) and Cole Simons (2017).

The role of the education commissioner has also been fraught with difficulties. The PLP hired Wendy McDonnell in 2011 to “lead the transformation of the Bermuda public school system” and she retired in 2013. Education expert Paul Wagstaff turned down the position last February after a lengthy open vacancy.

On the appointment of Mr Scott in January 2015, Michael Dunkley said an education commissioner would be hired “imminently”.

However, the commissioner’s seat remained empty with Bermudian Freddie Evans sitting as acting commissioner up until last March when he was finally handed the reins. The previous commissioner, Edmond Heatley, had a short tenure lasting just seven months after his resignation in April 2014.

Dissent from teachers has been clearly evident, with a row over contract negotiations culminating in a march on Cabinet from 600 Bermuda Union of Teachers members in May.

Last month, the BUT released its “2017 Education Remit” in absence, it said, of a solid platform by either party.

It reads: “We believe that the delivery and the management of education is of utmost importance and needs to be managed with meticulous attention to detail.”

Going forward, those in the community — education stakeholders — have been enlisted to help find a way forward under the guidance of education czar Jeremiah Newell who has turned around failing schools in the United States. The PLP has said it was on board with reviewing and implementing the recommendations of the initiative.

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