The Ministry of Education intends to sack "low-performing" teachers who don't improve when warned about their poor standards.

The planned initiative forms part of Government's Blueprint for Reform in Education, a five-year strategy designed to improve the public school system.

It puts seven recommendations from the 2007 Hopkins Report into play, one of which is an increased focus on the quality of teaching.

"To achieve a world-class education system the Bermuda public school system will promote a high performance culture by having a systemic approach to selecting and retaining highly qualified staff who meet international standards," the strategy states.

"Creating a culture of excellence means that we will not accept under-performance and we will send a clear message that low-performing personnel who do not improve after receiving intensive support will be dismissed. Equally we will recognise and offer incentives and rewards to high performing schools and individuals."

It continued: "We know that there is a sense of urgency for the Bermuda public school system to deliver a 21st century education which ensures that our students will be able to compete locally and globally."

Principals will be given greater autonomy and School Advisory Councils (SAC) will be established in institutions without school boards to ensure they receive sufficient support on policy matters.

"Leadership at the school level and at the department level will focus on student outcomes which are articulated in this plan. We will give principals autonomy and support while holding them accountable for student growth.

"We will also implement a school-based accountability model that holds the board, Department of Education, principals, and teachers accountable for the implementation of the blueprint and more importantly, achieving increased student outcomes.

"The School Improvement Plan will be a key component of the accountability model and will drive school aspirations, evaluations, and budgetary allocations. In the interim, standards on principal and teacher competencies will be revised and used to assess and intervene where data and observations indicate that remediation and support is required to achieve our stated goals.

"We will report transparently on the performance of schools, the board, and the system as a whole."