Government is allowing "talented" people to walk away from the Board of Education and spending money with nothing to show, the head of an organisation looking for improvement in the Island's public schools has claimed.

Myron Piper questioned Government's commitment to education, highlighting a series of high-profile resignations that he linked to frustrated efforts and a ministry he said was costly, despite yielding "no positive results".

The chairman of the Bermuda Educational Parents' Association spoke following Mark Byrne's resignation as chairman of the Board of Education last week. Mr. Byrne resigned just six months into the job, claiming he was frustrated by the lack of "political will" to improve public schools.

Mr. Piper said: "I'm not surprised. Mr. Byrne stated that there is a lack of political will to make the radical changes that are necessary to improve student outcome. These sentiments have been echoed time and time again in different contexts with the same outcome impotence. The Hopkins Report first identified the deficiencies in the system, provided a comprehensive approach to fixing the problems both short-term and long-term calling the present system on the verge of meltdown."

Fixing education will take a collective effort, Mr. Piper insisted.

"We all have our share of burden in resolving this enormous and arduous task which will require bipartisanship, a conciliatory approach with the focus on student outcome and a magnanimous effort by all charged with its outcome.

"We have had [US consultant] Dr. [Henry] Johnson [and former board chairmen] Phil Butterfield and Mark Byrne all accomplished individuals walk away frustrated from a system on the brink of a meltdown on one hand. On the other hand we have the Ministry still growing, getting paid higher salaries with no positive results. How is this? Where is the commitment from Government?"

He continued: "We have got to be the laughing stock of every [high profile] consultant we continue to bring in, offering their unfettered service, promoting only their own self-enrichment. Where is the student outcome?"

When he resigned last week, Mr. Byrne said his priorities were different to some of those held by decision makers.

"I have made it clear from the beginning that I feel the only thing that matters is improving student outcomes," he said. "This means other things, such as creating jobs and Bermudianisation, were low priorities to me. They turned out to be higher priorities at the political level."

Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) secretary Mike Charles questioned why Mr. Byrne considered Bermudianisation a low priority.

"I think that anybody who lives in Bermuda and has in interest in Bermuda must see Bermudianisation as something to look forward to. To say that that was a low priority maybe says something to what Mr. Byrne was all about. I think we're not going to sacrifice our kids for that, but the main fact that we want to improve education, that's what we're looking towards.

"I don't understand where he's coming from when he says that. The totality of the education system is to make our people better-abled to carry on and do the things ourselves rather than rely on outside help."

Mr. Charles said with or without Mr. Byrne, teachers should still do well in the classrooms with the aid of the Cambridge International Curriculum.

"I think the main thing has been done and that is the changes on the curriculum. Now teachers are focused on getting used to the curriculum. I think everyone should know that you're not going to see any change for a while. Teachers are excited about this. Things are going to be standardised around Bermuda. The tests are going to be standardised.

"These are some of the things that the teachers are excited about. It's a matter now of getting themselves acquainted with the new curriculum. I am not so sure Mr. Byrne staying or leaving will affect anything."

l Read Myron Piper's opinion column on Page 4