The Board of Education has announced it is working on a five-year strategic plan with Government, aimed at improving standards in public schools.

At a press conference on Wednesday, details on the plan were not revealed, however Education Minister El James said the goal was a basic one.

"I can share with you right now, that when I review that plan, I will be focused on one question, and that is this — how are we improving the quality of learning for our children? If we keep asking ourselves that one question, we will move the entire system in the right direction."

The Minister also formally welcomed two new faces to the board Darren Johnston, announced last month as a replacement chairman for Flagstone Re boss Mark Byrne, and Patrick Tannock.

Mr. Byrne resigned as chairman in September, citing a lack of "political will" to improve public schools as the reasons for his departure.

Said Mr. James: "It gives me great pleasure to formally welcome Mr. Darren Johnston as the chairman of the Board of Education.

"Mr. Johnston is well known in both the Bermuda business community and the community at large.

"Mr. Johnston was recently appointed as the managing partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers, and was educated at the Berkeley Institute and Mount Alison University. He has two accounting designations and is also a chartered financial analyst."

The Minister said Mr. Tannock's "passion for education" would be an asset to the board.

"Mr. Tannock is well known in the international business community as an executive vice president at ACE Bermuda Ltd. and vice chairman of the Association of Bermuda International Companies. I'm certain that Patrick's experience and passion for education will be an asset and he will make many positive contributions to the board."

He continued: "I'm happy to report that Mr. Vince Ingham remains as deputy chairman of the board and that other board members have remained in place."

The changes will not affect plans to incorporate the Cambridge Curriculum in schools, said Mr. James.

"The changes that have been made at the board level have not had any impact on our commitment to the new curriculum. It is our expectation that every teacher in the Bermuda public school system will have incorporated aspects of the Cambridge Curriculum into their teaching by the end of this school year.

"This is important so that both teachers and students are prepared for the full implementation of the new curriculum in September 2010. We continue to move steadily down the road of reform, and our concentration has intensified."