The Bermuda Union of Teachers has implored education minister Wayne Scott to address “blind spots” in the school reorganisation (Score) report which it says lacks detail on a plan of action.

The union also criticised the minister for releasing the report days before the deadline for parents to register their children.

The 196-page Score report, made public on Monday morning, outlines a raft of shortfalls within Bermuda’s primary education system and singles out four schools as potential candidates for closure — St David’s Primary School, Heron Bay Primary School, Prospect Primary School and Gilbert Institute.

The deadline for school registration is today.

In a statement released to The Royal Gazette, BUT president Shannon James said: “In making the announcement to continue registration while saying that there still may be school consolidation or closures for this year, the minister has opted to close these schools by graphic default.

“This double speak is making parents hesitant to register their children at a school that has been listed for closing. It is also causing more confusion and contradiction than providing a better way forward. We had hoped that he would have given glimpses of a concrete plan of action.

“Therefore, the BUT implores the minister to address these blind spots immediately. We expect the minister to deliver a template that drives excellence and supports 21st century school facilities and programmes through a well-thought-out strategic plan and commitment to see it through. We do so because our children and their parents, even this entire nation, demand and deserve better.”

Mr James acknowledged the time and effort that was dedicated to the report by the Ministry of Education and said it was not the BUT’s position to oppose closure and consolidation if it was for the benefit of the children.

While recognising that much of the report’s findings were “dire” he said now is an opportunity to turn things around for the better.

“We view this as a prime opportunity to improve the quality of the student experience. In fact, most of the findings were not new to us as a body, as our members have been calling for action for years for many of these issues to be addressed.

“Our educators are dedicated. They have demonstrated creative resourcefulness and sacrificial responsiveness in the worst of conditions to create legacies of success, for our children.

“Let it be clear that the BUT has never been adverse to school closure. However, what we vehemently advocate for is to make ‘every school, a great school’.”

Mr James continued: “We call on the Honourable R. Wayne Scott JP MP, and the entire OBA government to do the noble, just, and moral thing. The time has come to give public education the same enthusiasm and priority as it has been doing for big business. We charge the government to clarify how it plans to turn these bad times around.

“As advocates for the children that we are so privileged to teach, we stand willing as always to assist in making this system the envy of the world.”