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Bermuda's current and future national economic model requires Bermudian people who are numerate, literate and good critical thinkers. 

At least as good as any Kenyan accountant who scrabbles from his local secondary into the University of Nairobi and then, following the route of millions of black slaves, comes 7,500 miles to our shores and our different culture to work as an accountant. Or any Filipino plumber who masters a second language and travels even farther to get to our 13,000 acre atoll.

Those hundreds of foreign accountants and others who work in Bermuda come from more than 30 countries such as Australia, Kenya, Trinidad, Zimbabwe.  Each went through a school system - usually a public system - which used a curriculum that provided sound language and numeracy skills and that encouraged and required critical thinking.

As long as it sets a good global standard, the fine detail of the curriculum does not matter. The Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) can work. Used in more than 100 countries, it comes with a proven track record. [Kenya uses the CIE. Working as accountants, Kenyans are at work in Bermuda.]

What about Bermuda history and 'black' history?  Teach them. But not - as had been happening - at the expense of achieving higher standards of literacy and numeracy in the basics of Language, Mathematics, and critical thinking.

The only way forward is to do what the then 16th minister said he was going to do. Use a good global curriculum; teach it to all public school students; ensure that teachers are capable and that they teach well; test students to ensure that they are learning and publish results so that failures are identified and responded to - and success can be reinforced.

However, this technical and tactical change is only part of the solution. A national strategic solution is still required.

If the now 17th Minister and the Department of Education get the Cambridge programme in place, give a huge sigh and then sit back on their haunches, they will still fail to finish the main job. That main job is to fix public education and keep all public education always good and always relevant to Bermuda's social and economic needs. 

Lack of strategy

For 40 years, from January 1, 1970 to October 6, 2009, there has been a persistent and consistent lack of strategic analysis, strategic thinking, strategic planning and strategic follow-through.

This allowed a posse of Education Ministers [in 40 years, 17 Ministers who averaged just seven school terms before changing] and a multiplying Medusa of Education professionals and technicians in the Department of Education, to spend over half a human lifespan - more than a full generation - energetically pursuing, supporting, and defending a strategically then tactically failing programme.

Left in the hands of another future stream of constantly and rapidly changing ministers and non-strategically thinking education technicians, national public education will continue to flop and flounder - as it did during those 40 years.

A national strategic approach is essential. Bermuda and Bermudians will be better off with a brand new national advisory and managing group - continuous in existence - that will analyze, advise and plan on a long term national strategic basis.

This national group needs to work honestly and openly, with honest and good data that has not been manipulated to please the political or racial flavour of the moment. A permanent and almost autonomous National Education Council - this is the final action needed and the Bermuda Monetary Authority is a model.

When should we start fixing public education? Right away! Right now!

Waiting until 2010 before implementing a new curriculum means that Bermuda is acting unwisely. After 20 years, Bermuda's public education system has to catch up. No right-minded person who wants to catch-up chooses to sleep in on additional mornings.

The planned September 2010 start means starting after another long sleep-in - and losing one more cohort of young Bermudians.

Implementation should start now in 2009. If not immediately, then by January 1, 2010. We do not have the luxury of being able to take extra sleep-in time. We're now faced with a national field strewn with landmines and there is a booby trap lurking. Extra time and extra energy are needed to deal with those.

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