Disruptive students, rows over school uniforms, and questions over whether special needs students were having their needs met were some of the challenges the education system faced in 2002.

At the same time, there were improvements in school testing, the Education Ministry launched a new strategy and the oft-maligned CedarBridge Academy students bettered their peers in several competitions (see box).

In the beginning of the year, students from CedarBridge Academy (CBA) were sent home for having the incorrect uniform and/or no ID, and in some cases, caused parental uproar.

In November, hundreds of CBA students were sent home in November after they failed to arrive in their winter blazers - despite having had months of notice. It was argued that with temperatures in the 70's, it was nonsensical for students to wear them. Later it emerged that the decision contravened the Ministry of Education's Code of Conduct.

In the wake of complaints about disruptive students in the classrooms, Education minister Paula Cox said she would tackle discipline problems in schools.

She also announced that CBA and Berkeley could soon be provided with their own Police officer who will investigate crimes and to deal with behavioural issues, she also said plans were in hand to provide children with special needs better school facilities in the western and eastern ends of the Island.

During the month of May, it was pointed out that a need for an alternative school in Bermuda was on the rise as no less than 83 students were referred to the Adult Education School (AES) from the public school system during the last year.

The teenagers, from both CBA and Berkeley Institute, were transferred to the part-time school to complete their education after failing in the traditional system.

In September, CARE Learning Centre opened its doors to 30 students deemed not to be functioning in the two public senior high schools. The remainder whose parents kept them in the public education system were enrolled at The Education Centre (TEC).

To prevent overcrowding at the Island's senior schools, in April the Ministry announced s4 students will attend CBA and Berkeley in an afternoon and morning shift system. Portable trailers were subsequently set up on both properties.

Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) vice-president Joann B. Adams recommended the Island's educational system be overhauled. She believed by letting parents choose their children's schools, competition will be increased.

The Ministry of Education revealed that, on average, primary school students were doing the same or better than children of the same age in the US but both middle and senior school students were behind their American counterparts, although most test results improved.

Teachers and principals signed contracts for an improved pay packet in February. But in late October, teachers Island-wide staged several wildcat strikes, causing the closures of several schools over a seven-day period. It was understood while the BUT wanted a ten percent pay hike, Government was only willing to raise their wages by three percent. The dispute was sent to arbitration.

When Government announced in June that it intended to regulate home schools, home school teachers vehemently objected. Government called for any school with more than five pupils to be licensed.