Parents will be awarded more say in the administration and reform of Bermuda’s public schools, under legislation approved by Parliament.

The Education Amendment Act 2015 will redress a long-standing lack of communication, parental involvement, transparency and accountability in Government-run schools, Education Minister Wayne Scott told the House of Assembly this week.

The Act was driven in part by a landmark ruling of August 2012 in the Supreme Court that overturned the Ministry of Education’s attempt to transfer two popular school principals over the wishes of parents and students.

In that judgment, Chief Justice Ian Kawaley cited a history of heavy-handed actions by the ministry, writing: “The promise to engage parents and the community in the running of public schools is based on a commitment to make a paradigm shift in the management culture of Bermuda’s public education system and to make it more democratic and participatory and less authoritarian and paternalistic.”

Mr Scott alluded to that shift in the House on Wednesday, adding that the issues addressed were broader than consultation alone.

Feedback from parents and the wider community was solicited under former ministers Nalton Brangman and Grant Gibbons, Mr Scott said. While there was no overall consensus, a common theme was that parents should be treated as partners and stakeholders.

The Act proposes introducing “parent councils” for the Government-maintained senior schools, as well as parental involvement committees across the public school system, allowing broader access to the commissioner of education. In addition, a parent and community involvement strategy will be created.

While it was welcomed by the Opposition, reservations were expressed by Shadow Education Minister Lovitta Foggo, who told the House that parental involvement should be structured in a manner that would not usurp the powers of principals and teachers.

“We need to make certain that we are doing it in such a way that will not create any negative issues,” she said.

Progressive Labour Party MP Walton Brown said he understood the intent of the legislation, but added: “It’s unfortunate that we have had to come to this.

“If you read the Bill, what it outlines is really what has been — not fully, but to a large extent — the responsibility of parent teacher associations.”

Mr Brown lamented that Parliament was creating “a legislative framework to accomplish what in the past was largely accomplished by voluntary activities”.

He also said parent councils would wield no real power.

Mr Scott concurred that it was “unfortunate that we have to come here sometimes to address issues that should be natural”, but said it was necessary to give parents an opportunity to get involved. Members of a parental involvement committee will be vetted and appointed by the minister, although some of the regulations governing the shift will not be put into effect until the next parliamentary session.