I am an American who, as the wife of Bermudian Denis Collins, lived in Bermuda during the 1980s. I worked for the Ministry of Education.

As the United States tears itself apart in the prelude to the 2024 presidential election, my thoughts turn to a monumentally different experience in Bermuda: the Education Planning Team of 1988.

This unifying achievement by Bermuda, and the dedication and integrity of my colleagues on the EPT, remains a bright treasure in my heart.

I believe the EPT’s work, which carried out the Government's commitment to meet the needs of the entire population of Bermuda, should be known to all Bermudians and serve as an example to the wider world.

The Bermuda Government sought to develop a plan for secondary education that would represent all stakeholders. Towards this end, a “process consultation” company was hired. This company made no educational recommendations at all. Rather, it set out and facilitated a harmonious, productive planning process.

The first step was creation of an Education Planning Team made up of persons representing all segments of the population: educators, non-educators, native Bermudians, expatriates, management, labour, various ethnic backgrounds, etc.

The individuals invited to participate were to possess strong communication skills, able to listen with an open mind, and articulate their own ideas clearly and respectfully. I was honoured to serve as a member of the EPT.

The EPT met regularly for several months. While meeting, we were sequestered. All decisions were made by consensus, which was defined as follows: “This might not be precisely what I recommended; however, it is acceptable. I can support this.”

Every step of the way, we discussed and refined each proposal until we produced a statement that reached 100 per cent consensus. We thereby systematically generated a list of beliefs we all shared, a vision for secondary education, a mission, goals and objectives. This work became the basis for the Government’s action plan.

The process was entirely collegial. There was no divisive “us against them”, no fearmongering, no dehumanising, no strong-arm tactics. Warm friendships grew between people with very different backgrounds and roles.

When the EPT was formed, it was my understanding that despite desire to eliminate it, the eleven-plus exam was still in use to determine a student’s options for secondary school; various recommendations for how to discontinue it had been raised but were found problematic. Notably, the EPT never discussed the eleven-plus exam. It simply had no place in the vision, mission and goals of the group.

I have included a picture of a page from The Royal Gazette. It shows the EPT members, the mission statement that evolved, and some of the objectives that became the foundation for the action plan that was implemented.

Perhaps The Royal Gazette will choose to remind Bermuda of what was accomplished, shining a light on the value of bringing diverse people together with commitment to address their nation’s needs through actions rooted in consensus.

• Debra Collins PhD was a member of the 1988 Education Planning Team