30 staff cut from Education Department

I stated the operational and procedural changes that had already been made to improve financial efficiency and I made it clear that students are the sole reason for our existence and teaching and learning are our focus.

To that end we reviewed the Hopkins Report, the Board of Education's BluePrint and the various assessments of schools and staff to determine where we are, and what we have to do to raise standards, smooth the transfer of students from P6 to M1 and from M3 to S1; and to increase the student retention rate.

I gave notice that I would be reviewing the Ministry's staffing (75% of our budget is salaries) particularly Ministry and Department staff who are eligible to retire under the 1970 and 1981 Pension and Superannuation Acts.

When we put the students interests first, we begin by looking at how we can improve their classroom experience from the youngest age.

To that end we have been looking at what needs to be done to improve the operation of the Child Development Programme to make it more user friendly for children and the parents - and to ensure that they are fully servicing the needs of this group. This will mean ensuring that they are at optimum operational ability.

In tandem with this, we are looking at how we can best integrate the use of para professionals in our public education system.

We see a number of areas where improvements can be made. And a manning review suggests we have a paraprofessional surplus to some of our requirements.

Therefore, just as I signalled during the Education Budget Debate, personnel levels will be affected.

In line with the Collective Bargaining Agreement that we have with the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT), all paraprofessionals and educational therapist assistants assigned to public schools with one-year contracts are being notified that their contracts will not be renewed for September 2011.

This decision affects those persons whose role is to assist teachers or provide support to persons who have special needs. The total number of persons affected is thirty (30) out of a total of one hundred and fifty paraprofessionals and educational therapist assistants.

The BUT Agreement requires that the Ministry advise these persons of their status no later than 1st June in any year and we have complied with this requirement.

However, as parents will be aware, we must still provide the necessary services to students as required. This means that if necessary, we will contact those qualified individuals if needed.

I think the public will agree that while paraprofessionals provide a much needed service, there is also room for improvement.  To that end, we plan to establish a clear qualifying standard for paraprofessionals, while also instituting a programme to ensure those who wish to upgrade their skills. I think we can all agree that those who can do so must.

There should be full agreement that those who teach our children must be qualified and certified.

Prior to the end of June, information regarding staff cost reductions in the Department of Education and Ministry Headquarters will be released.