The Ministry of Education will host information sessions to provide updates on education reform, the House of Assembly heard yesterday.

Diallo Rabain, the Minister of Education, reminded MPs that Prospect Primary School and Gilbert Institute will close at the end of this academic year and said that the transitions for both schools will be handled “with care” by their respective principals.

He told the House: “I committed to providing further updates during term one and we will meet that deadline. Invitations will be sent in the coming weeks for information sessions at each school.

“It is essential that as many members of our Bermuda public school system family as possible attend these sessions, as they will share important information about school openings, closures and transition timelines.

“I’m also pleased that our school principals specifically requested input on how these sessions should be structured as they know best how to engage with their school families. These sessions and how they will happen, will be a result in the collaboration between the Education Reform Unit and the principals.”

Mr Rabain said: “September 2025 also marks the milestone when senior schooling becomes a five-year programme. This will coincide with the final cohort of the current four-year senior school programme.”

He pointed out that will mean pupils in Year 8 or M2 as well as those in M3 will transition to senior school.

The minister added: “In the coming weeks, meetings will be held between parents and school counsellors to help students and families make informed senior school choices.

“Starting this year, as part of our education reform process, students transitioning into senior school will receive a uniform voucher.

“This year the initiative is specifically designed to support the double cohort of students affected by the transition.

“However, going forward, the Ministry of Education will continue this programme annually, providing $100 uniform vouchers to parents who attend the senior school counselling sessions.

“Uniform vouchers will also be made available to students transitioning from primary schools when they close.”

Although Mr Rabain said education reform had been progressing well, he noted: “While we certainly must celebrate the progress we are making, we must also be honest about the challenges we face.

“In some areas, longstanding practices and customs have slowed our progress, preventing us from moving as quickly as we would like.

“These issues are real and we are actively addressing them, but in a collaborative way to ensure all voices are continuously heard and considered.

“However, we remain steadfast in our commitment to reforming our education system for the sake of our children.

“We will continue to push forward, working through the obstacles, because ensuring that every child and young person in Bermuda receives a quality education is not just our goal — it is our duty.”