The Minister of Education revealed that 133 students from The Berkeley Institute and 107 from CedarBridge Academy graduated this year.

Diallo Rabain praised the students for overcoming the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic when he addressed the House on Friday.

The education minister said: “Despite adversity in our much-changing world, they have already trodden a pathway to achievement as senior school graduates.

“While they have much more to accomplish, I would like them to know that they have the support of the Minister of Education and the Government of Bermuda as they work towards their personal and professional growth into adulthood.

“Their success and achievements will continue to make Bermuda a better place.”

Mr Rabain said that of the 133 Berkeley students, 115 graduated with the Bermuda School Diploma, ten with the Bermuda Alternate School Diploma from the Functional Academics programme and eight with a Penn Foster High School Diploma.

Of those graduates, one student was awarded an Advanced Honours — Summa Cum Laude, six earned the Advanced Honours — Magna Cum Laude and six students achieved Advanced Honours — Cum Laude.

An additional student graduated from Bermuda College with an associate degree and five students with their Nursing Assistant Certificate.

Of the graduates, 79 have been accepted into overseas colleges and universities, 38 will attend Bermuda College and ten will join the workforce. The remaining students are undecided as yet, said the minister.

At CedarBridge Academy, 89 graduated with the Bermuda School Diploma, five with the Bermuda Alternative School Diploma from the Functional Academics programme, five with a Bermuda Functional Skills Certificate, eight with the Penn Foster High School Diploma, one with the Bermuda School Diploma Honours Distinction and 11 students graduated with the Bermuda Diploma School Honours.

Of the 107 CedarBridge graduates, 80 have been accepted into one or more colleges. Outside those attending Bermuda College, others will attend various colleges and universities and 18 students were recognised for earning the National Centre for Construction Education and Research Core Certification.

Mr Rabain said: “These graduating classes, in particular, have had a rather unusual and unfortunate high school experience as they began their senior school journey just before the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“While adjusting to a new school, new teachers and new peers, they were also required to adapt to learning at home via Zoom, then transitioned to a hybrid learning system, where they attended school for in-person learning at least twice a week.

“They had little choice but to persevere through these challenges and their reward is that they are now graduates of the Bermuda Public School System and better prepared for the tests that will come as they pursue their personal, education and professional aspirations.”