Government confirmed yesterday that public schools will move to the Cambridge International Curriculum but failed to say when.

Talks are still being held on an implementation date for the system to be used as the basis for English, Mathematics and Science in primary, middle and senior schools.

Minister of Education Elvin James said: "We are not pressing for a September start.

"We realise this is very important and we have to get it right first time. We don't want to move too quickly or too slowly."

But he added: "Something will be done in September, whether we implement the whole thing or begin the implementation in September. Training will begin almost immediately."

Bermuda Union of Teachers general secretary Mike Charles said: "We are happy a curriculum has finally been selected and approved."

He said the critical factor was the timeline for implementation.

Asked what was feasible he said: "I think we have to leave it up to the experts. I cannot tell you what is feasible."

Selected ahead of around 15 other curricula the Cambridge International Curriculum (CIC) was chosen for its international recognition, its assessment tools and its consistency in moving from one level to the other, said Mr. James.

"We want to give our children a diploma that is internationally recognised, one that has that Cambridge logo in the corner and you can take anywhere in the world."

He added: "For far too long, we have heard complaints about the ill-preparedness of some of our graduates for higher education or for the workforce.

"These complaints formed the very basis upon which the 2007 review of public education was carried out. The review identified the challenges to student success. We took steps to improve, but realised that even more needed to be done."

Describing the adoption of the CIC as "the most significant step taken in the last ten years to improve public education in Bermuda", Mr. James said it is used in more than 157 countries around the world.

But he stressed Bermudian content would not be lost in the change.

"We are not adopting a United Kingdom curriculum and dropping it into Bermuda's schools.

"In each of the 157 countries around the world where Cambridge is used, the core content has been adapted to make it suit each country's educational context. The same will happen in Bermuda."

The Cambridge Curriculum has four phases, each of which dove-tails into the next, beginning with primary (age five to 11), lower secondary (age 11-14 the equivalent of our middle schools), middle secondary (age 14-16 the equivalent of S1 and S2), and upper secondary (age 16-19).

The dove-tailing ensures that there is a standard of consistency in learning from one learning level to the next, said Mr. James.

"At the lower levels, Cambridge focuses on English, Mathematics and Science.

As students matriculate to the upper levels, their coursework will focus more on preparation for IGCSE examinations at the middle secondary level and for Cambridge A or AS (advanced subsidiary) levels at the upper secondary level.

"This is similar to what currently happens at some local schools."

There are regular tests to provide detailed feedback on each student's strengths and weaknesses before they progress to the next level.

"In the Bermuda context, this should once and for all remove concerns about social promotion," said Mr. James.

"As students move from one level to the next in the Cambridge system, reports to parents become even more detailed, and provide solid advice about the different progression routes available to a student after the age of 14.

"This is an ambitious plan, but it is one which can and will work.

"We have to accept that any serious educational reform requires swift, sharp and sometimes upsetting action to improve student outcomes.

"Now that a new curriculum has been chosen, we must work out the details of how and when to begin delivering that curriculum to our students."

To accomplish this, the Education Board and the Department of Education have put together an implementation team made up of curriculum officers, teachers, principals, and parent representatives.

The team is meeting to set out tasks to be completed and to develop answers to questions that will be asked.

The implementation team will be making a recommendation to the board on this before the next board meeting in June, said Mr. James but he could not say when a decision would be made public.

Opposition Education spokesman Grant Gibbons said: "Just about everybody wants this to happen. What I would hope is the implementation team would look seriously at a phased approach which begins in September rather than putting the whole thing off for a full year.

"One possibility would be to start with the early grades in primary school.

"If they could at least get it started it could be enormously positive, particularly for parents and children."