A call for a shake-up of the Education Board has been made by its own chairman along with politicians and union leaders.

New board chairman Philip Butterfield said the body did not include the Chief Education Officer or have principal or teacher representation.

And Bermuda Union of Teachers President Anthony Wolffe said yesterday that he wasn't even aware of what the board did.

He said: "I honestly couldn't tell you who the members of the board are. I have never known who they are.

"We should at least be able to put names to faces. But we are completely out of the loop.

"My agenda could be to get to know what it is they are all about.

"At least the union should at least meet with the board so we can see where they are going."

In a speech to the Bermuda Public Services Association last month Mr. Butterfield said the board was made up of community people who can advise, but it was not the singular entity driving education on the Island.

He said: "There is no agreement with regard to vision, objectives or standards, and we don't know how we compare to other countries.

"As the fifth highest per capita income community we must and can do better. We should be focused on realising our potential - and we have huge potential."

He said a failure to improve the public system would result in companies switching to jurisdictions that are producing a quality workforce.

Opposition acting Education Spokesman Cole Simons said he could understand Mr. Butterfield's bewilderment about having an education board without proper representation from education professionals.

He said: "If Bermuda is serious about student achievement then this board must have input from local and international successful educators.

"To continue to do otherwise will result in the board being derelict in its duties and in fact it would be tantamount to wilful negligence."

He said successful business, union and community leaders were needed to give a vision and he said the PLP Government should not reward its cronies by appointing them to what he termed as the nation's most important board.