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In May, government agreed a fix in public education. Since then we've had part of a round of musical chairmen and a flip-flop-flip of Education Ministers. In the first three parts, I'll fill in essential and factual background; show, factually, how and why the problem occurred; and examine the recently announced national solution. In Part Four, I'll show you the major obstacle that can still prevent real progress.



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PART ONE - THE FACTS. WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.



In the forty years between 1970 and 2009, there were five major changes in Bermuda's educating systems. In Part One, you'll see what those changes were, when they happened, and what actually happened with Education's top management.



STUDENT OR MARKET SHARE - The big shrink.

In 1971, Bermuda had 12,356 students. Eighty-seven percent or 10,710 were in the public system. Thirteen percent or 1,646 were in the private system. Fewer than a hundred students from the two active US bases (USN Annex and USNAS).

In 2007, about 10,700 students in Bermuda. Fifty-five percent or 5,916 in the public system. Forty-five percent or over 4,700 in the private system. No 'base' children.

Between 1970 and 2007, public system share fell from 87% to 55%, dipping to 5,916 students. Private system trebled from 13% to 45%, rising to over 4,700 students. More parents choosing to pay to use an expensive private system instead of using a 'free' public system.

MAJOR EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS - Splitting, growing, changing, and downsizing.

In 1971, four private high schools. Saltus Grammar School. Bermuda High School for Girls. Mount St Agnes Academy. The Bermuda Institute for Seventh Day Adventists. The Adult Education School served a small number of students. Homeschooling was rare.

In 1971, eight public high schools: St George's Secondary, Whitney Institute, Northlands Secondary, the Berkeley Institute, Warwick Academy, Warwick Secondary, Sandy's Secondary, Bermuda Technical Institute.

All schools were racially integrated, but racial demographics ranged from 100% black [e.g. Berkeley Institute] to 95% white [e.g. Bermuda High School for Girls].

By 2007, Warwick Academy had reverted to its pre-1970 private school status. Somersfield Academy had opened. Saltus, BHS, MSA, and Bermuda Institute had expanded. The Adult Education School had expanded and was now serving an increased number of school-age students. Home Schooling had mushroomed and now served over 250 students.

Conversely, the public system had reduced to Cedarbridge Academy and the Berkeley Institute. Government had closed the Bermuda Technical Institute in 1972.

CURRICULUM - A bad choice, a bad decision, a bad mistake.

In 1971, all eight public and two private high schools used a more or less common curriculum. This led to exams set by London or Cambridge universities or The City & Guilds examination council. However, in the public system, only Berkeley, Warwick Academy, and the Bermuda Technical Institute rigorously prepared students in this curriculum and routinely achieved good results.

MSA and Bermuda Institute used a North American curriculum.

By 2002, all public schools had withdrawn from the UK-style GCE/GCSE curriculum. Government had closed Bermuda Technical Institute. Warwick Academy had reverted to private school status. Public schools had gone over, completely, to the Bermuda Secondary School Certificate (BSSC and later re-named the Bermuda School Certificate or BSC).

The private schools never abandoned their GCE/GCSE curriculums. Instead, they added the higher-level International Baccalaureate and the Advanced Placement exams. MSA and BI continued to get good results with their North American curriculum.

The BSSC (BSC) was intended to be at the same standard as the international GCE/GCSE. Though never formally acknowledged, by 2007, there was general agreement that the BSSC (BSC) standard was materially below that of the GCE/GCSE.

TIME TAKEN TO GRADUATE - Falling behind.

From 1971 to now, private school students usually took their GCE/GCSE exams around age 15/16. From the 1990's, the private schools entered their students for the higher level International Baccalaureate and Advance Placement exams at age 17/18 and began using these higher level exams as their final exam.

Until its 2002 de facto withdrawal from the GCE/GCSE program, Berkeley Institute had also been putting some of its students in for the GCE/GCSE exams around age 15/16.

By 2007, those public school students who were meeting BSC graduation requirements were doing so around age 16/17. Two results. One - Public school students were now taking a year LONGER than private school students to reach graduating standards. Two - Public school students were taking this extra year to achieve a lower standard.

TEACHERS AND STAFF - Padding the payroll?

From 1971 to now, the private school system has had a teacher (plus staff) to student ratio that has stayed within the 1 to 12 and 1 to 15 range. This is similar to educational systems in other well-developed societies recognized as having good education systems.

From the 1970's through the 1980's, the number of teachers (plus staff) in the public school system oscillated around 622. In this same period, public system student counts averaged 9,531. The teacher (plus staff) to student ratio was near 1 to 15. This was not different from the private system.

By 2007, the public school system had 1,203 teachers (plus staff) for its 5,916 students. Commencing in 1990, by adding 567 teachers (plus staff), the public system staff grew ninety percent. In the same period, it lost 3,858 students, and public system student enrolment declined thirty-nine percent.

In 2007, the public system's teacher (plus staff) to student ratio was around 1 to 5 - three times higher than in the private system and three times higher than before.

NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY SINCE 1970 - Who was, and who is, in charge?

Since January 1st 1970, Bermuda has had seventeen Ministers of Education. Two different political parties have been responsible for setting national educational policies.

The UBP - appointing nine Ministers - was responsible for national education policy from 1970 to 9th November 1998. Twenty-nine years.

The PLP - appointing and re-appointing eight persons as Minister - has been responsible for national education policy from 10th November 1998 to now. Eleven years.

Next - Part Two - The Gap Appears.

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