Updated: March 16, 2021 4:28 PM

Former Education Minister El James (file photo)

Chronology: 25 years of public education reform

1996: The passes of the Education and Colleges Act are introduced by the Bermuda United Party government.

December 1998: The Progressive Labor Party takes power.

May 2007: the Hopkins Report, commissioned by the government, finds that the public school system is “on the verge of collapse” with four public schools failing and most of the others simply satisfactory or worse. The need to dramatically improve the quality of education is its number one recommendation. The government reveals plans for “regrouping councils” to be responsible for school federations.

May 2009: The government confirms that public schools will transition to the Cambridge International Curriculum for elementary, secondary and secondary school students.

April 2010: The government publishes its Master plan for education reform, a strategic plan for 2010 to 2015, for consultation. Its mission: to implement most of Hopkins’ recommendations and “to deliver a rigorous curriculum personalized to meet the needs of each student, using stimulating learning experiences, appropriate assessments and effective support that makes us all responsible for quality education in the 21st century. Education Minister El James said: “My vision is that this plan will be a living document. We will come back each year to assess our progress and refine our goals for the period ahead. “

Dame Jennifer Smith (file photo)

December 2010: Education Minister Dame Jennifer Smith announces an Adopt-a-School program to raise funds in the form of private donations for the maintenance of elementary school buildings.

December 2012: The One Bermuda Alliance wins power.

July 2013: The government publishes Inclusive and Special Education, Getting it Right for Every Child, Discussion Paper.

2015 : A model mind survey framework is introduced in public schools, aimed at tapping into the natural curiosity and questions of young children.

February 2016: The government releases the Goal report on the disastrous state of the school’s 18 public primary schools. Four schools are due to close: Heron Bay, Prospect, Gilbert Institute and St David’s. None close.

Wayne scott

March 2017: Outgoing OBA Education Minister Wayne Scott reveals that the government is considering the idea of ​​rebuilding Bermuda’s entire school infrastructure “from scratch.” Mr Scott says initial figures suggest the construction of 12 new schools – three elementary schools and one middle school in each of the three geographic areas identified in the Goal report – would cost about $ 90 million.

July 2017: The PLP returns to the government, after committing in its manifesto to phase out colleges and introduce signature higher schools.

December 2017: Education Minister Diallo Rabain releases Plan for 2022: a “multi-year strategic plan for the Bermuda public school system” which defines “what success will look like by 2022”. He says, “This plan will not stay on the shelf. It will be implemented because we are accountable to our students and to all who supported the design and writing of Plan 2022. ”The priorities of the plan are: to increase academic rigor and student engagement; ensuring career, university and workforce preparation; improve teaching and leadership; improving infrastructure and resources; and “ensuring the success of the system”.

Diallo Rabain, Minister of Education

December 2020: The consultation starts on Proposal for the introduction of parish primary schools, which proposes to close nine primary schools, renovate new ones and build a new primary school. The proposal is part of a larger plan that will include the removal of middle schools and the creation of five signature graduate schools.

Friday 12 March 2021: The deadline for submitting submissions in terms of primary schools.

September 2022: The date Mr. Rabain says two of the flagship schools will be introduced, at the Berkeley Institute and at CedarBridge Academy. He said in a public meeting last week that the rest of the plans would be rolled out over two to five years.