Incoming Education Minister Wayne Scott has pledged to stick with the portfolio until the next election.

He spoke to The Royal Gazette at yesterday’s swearing in ceremony at Government House, during which he replaced Dr Grant Gibbons as Minister of Education.

Former Premier Craig Cannonier was also appointed Minister of Public Works, while Patricia Gordon-Pamplin took over as Minister of Community, Culture and Sports.

Addressing the issue of the “hot potato” that is the Ministry of Education, which has changed hands so often in recent years, Mr Scott said: “I have no intention of moving on at least until the next election. “Normally, if a position like this was in the business world, I would be looking at a minimum of a five-year outlook — that’s what I am doing coming into this role now.

“I believe that my commitment will be to stay here and to see the work done. I am not going to be looking to move in another year or so.”

Mr Scott, who was Minister of Community, Culture and Sports, said he had some experience in education and was dedicated to improving the system on the Island.

“I’m an adjunct professor of finance at Endicott College [in Massachusetts],” he said. “I’ve taught the undergraduate programme and I’ve taught their MBA programme, so I do have experience with education.

“My ex-wife is an educator, so I spent many years understanding some of the issues in education.

“I have worked very closely with Dr Gibbons over the years with education, so I do understand a lot of the concerns and issues, in particular the Hopkins Report — work that has started.”

Asked what his priorities were in education, Mr Scott said: “One of the priorities is to communicate with all stakeholders because we are all part of this. That’s the educators, the principals, the unions, the parents, the students — it should be a national priority to ensure we put our best foot forward to ensure that each of our students are educated.”

As for whether he believed the education budget should be increased, Mr Scott said: “It is a bit premature when you look at just the numbers.

“As former Minister Gibbons pointed out, we spent in excess of $20,000 per student, which is more than the private schools locally.

“We have to all ensure that the public gets the best value for every dollar being spent.

“We do recognise the importance of education and we do recognise that it’s important to have a dedicated education Minister and thus, here I am.”

Premier Michael Dunkley said two further appointments were “imminent” — that of a Commissioner of Education, the first to be appointed since Edmond Heatley resigned in April last year, as well as a new Permanent Secretary.

The post of Permanent Secretary for Education had been scrapped when the Ministry merged with Economic Development after the One Bermuda Alliance came to power.

Premier Dunkley said: “That should be finalised very shortly. There has been an acting PS in place for a couple of months, so I am confident that’s going to be dealt with very soon.

“As for the Commissioner, that programme is well along the track, though that’s not a Government appointment so we have no influence or control about that.”

Mr Dunkley said he had known about three months before the America’s Cup annoucement that Bermuda was “in with a shot” of winning the bid, which is when he began preparing for a Cabinet reshuffle.

He said: “Minister Scott brings a unique set of talents to the table in that he is a people person, he is very organised and he has got a lot of energy.

“He is not afraid of a challenge and he’s not afraid to think outside of the box and work with people. Those talents will help him to get forward and do what we have to do in education.

“I’ve been very impressed by him not only out in the community, but around the Cabinet table — he comes prepared on all issues, not just the issues that he is responsible for.

“We are lucky to have Ministers of that capability.

“We have a challenge but we have made some good progress and we will make a lot more progress — Minister Scott is going to drive that progress.

“I have every intention of having him in there for the long haul.”