26 February 2010 | Minister El James

Good afternoon,

During the 2010/11 financial year, the Ministry of Education will focus on achieving the objectives of the Strategic Plan for the Bermuda Public School System.

This plan, which will be released to the public shortly, is being produced by the Board of Education and the Department of Education as a guide to improving the outcomes of the Public Education System.

After consulting with as many stakeholders as possible, the Strategic Plan will clearly articulate the outcomes that we wish to achieve for our students.

How the outcomes are to be achieved will be detailed via a number of strategic priorities which will include:

• Effectively implementing the Cambridge and related curricula in 2010;

• Strengthening and distributing leadership;

• Improving the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom;

• Facilitating the improvement of standards via accountability and transparency;

• Improving the efficiency of delivery of the educational product;

• Maximizing the contribution of parents and the community; and

• Improving school culture and school climate.

In turn, the delivery on the strategic priorities focuses on four different dimensions:

• People;

• Curriculum;

• Alignment and accountability; and

• School culture, climate and infrastructure.

During the next financial year, the Department of Education will continue to provide professional development for teachers so that they can enhance their talents, skills and experiences.

This is undoubtedly one of the most important priorities of the Department – to improve the standard of teaching in our schools.

The Department will also continue to develop the Principals of our Public Schools into world class leaders.

This will be achieved by building on the very successful workshop facilitated by the Association of Bermuda International Companies which involved Public and Private School Principals as well as business leaders in a forum on turning around schools and school systems.

The Board and the Department of Education will continue with the restructuring of the Department Headquarters to transform it into an effective central service centre.

This will be done in conjunction with initiatives to devolve autonomy for the control and management of schools to school Principals.

The Cambridge International Curriculum will be delivered to ALL students by ALL teachers in ALL Public Schools starting in September, 2010.

The Department has acquired support from Cambridge to ensure that teachers, principals and officers have as much information as possible to effectively deliver the curriculum in September.

Let me make it clear that my intention is to deliver on the vision of “providing a world class education system that meets global standards and ensures that students reach their full potential”.

And now more than ever I am cognizant of the need to keep costs under control as we seek to achieve the education reform that the entire community deserves.

We must improve the efficiency of delivery of the educational product. The cost of educating our children cannot continue to spiral upwards.

We, as an educational system, and a community, must find ways to maintain and improve standards while also containing costs and ensuring that our students meet the highest expectations.

This is what we will achieve during the upcoming financial year.

Thank you.