The Ministry of Education will receive an extra $1.55 million as part of the midyear budget review plus a $700,000 commitment to a capital grant for the Bermuda College.

Diallo Rabain, the Minister of Education, provided a breakdown of the funding at CedarBridge Academy this morning, when he announced that money has been set aside for special needs resources, early learning programmes and literacy support.

He said: “This funding is not just about launching new initiatives or programmes, we are funding for outcomes, outcomes that directly improve the lives of our children and elevate the quality of education across our island.

“Our goal is to ensure that these investments yield tangible results such as better learning environments, enhanced support for children with special needs and improved access to educational resources.

“While this funding addresses immediate needs, we are committed to evaluating its impact over the coming months and developing more sustainable, effective solutions to permanently address the challenges in our education system.”

Mr Rabain said the $700,000 for Bermuda College was needed to ensure buildings on the campus are “safe, functional and conducive to student engagement”.

“These improvements will enhance the learning environment and encourage more students to participate in campus life,” he said.

Speaking on the money set aside for people with severe and multiple learning difficulties, Mr Rabain said that the Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy will receive $370,000 for urgent wraparound services such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech and language pathology.

He explained: “These services will give children the specialised care that they need to communicate more effectively, improve motor skills and achieve their educational goals.

“Dame said they needed additional allied health services and so this funding will help to supply those services.”

The Royal Gazette recently reported that there were safety concerns with the Hope Academy building, but Mr Rabain said the midyear funding was not linked to those issues.

He added: “There has been a meeting that has taken place and a list of outstanding issues has been submitted.

“They are being addressed … I understand that there is some work that is happening now during the break.”

There was $50,000 earmarked for specialised follow-up support for people with conditions such as autism.

An additional $420,000 was committed for additional paraprofessionals to ensure children receive one-on-one support and there was $150,000 for psychoeducational assessments to address a “critical gap” in resources.

Mr Rabain said it would ensure children presenting with conditions such as autism are properly assessed and supported.

Highlighting the importance of literacy, Mr Rabain said some funding would be allocated to The Reading Clinic to ensure that students with dyslexia and other learning difficulties have the tools and support they need.

The iPlay reading programme will also expand to give additional literacy support at the preschool level.

The Government’s scholarship and awards programme received an additional $50,000 to ensure more students can access higher education.

Mr Rabain also introduced the Minister’s Annual Debate Challenge which will receive $50,000.

He said: “This initiative will develop critical thinking, communication and research skills in students aged 11 through 14 and will provide them with a platform to showcase those talents.”

Gladstone Thompson, the principal of St David’s Primary School, was present at the conference with students who are taking part in the challenge, some of whom hope to compete in a tournament in March.

“These students are to be commended for giving up time during their holiday and they are doing extremely well,” Mr Thompson said.

Mr Rabain announced a $410,000 package for the Child Development Programme that will fund developmental assessments for children aged 2 to 5.

He said: “Some of our most vulnerable children have waited for these critical assessments and today we are ensuring that they get the attention they need.

“This is about eliminating delays and providing early interventions to set these children on a path to success.”

Uniform vouchers to the value of $100 will be funded for those transitioning from parish primary and middle schools to senior schools.

Mr Rabain said that would include about 150 pupils and said the scheme would continue to be part of the education reform programme annually.