Education had its budget cut by almost $6 million despite Finance Minister Paula Cox highlighting children as Bermuda's future.

The budget for this year — $143 million — is $5.9 million less than last year's $149.1 million.

Ms Cox said the Ministry's focus for this year is to "achieve the objectives of the strategic plan for the Bermuda public schools system".

The biggest chunk of the funds, $120.8 million, was given to the Department of Education down $8.2 million from last year.

The department employs 1,249 teachers, down ten from the year before.

The Ministry of Education headquarters was given $3.1 million last year's Budget allocation did not differentiate between it and the Department of Education.

The budget for school psychology was cut by $309,000; substitute teachers were cut by $1 million and counselling by $90,000.

And education grants were cut completely. No money was earmarked for that area this year compared with $2.4 million last year.

Bermuda College received $19.8 million, down $833,000 from last year.

Ms Cox said: "I believe the children are our future. I echo the comments of the US President [Barack Obama] who states: 'I believe it's time to lead a new era of mutual responsibility in education one where we all come together for the sake of our children's success.

"Education is seen as mired in the same debate that has consumed it for decades. We can create a consensus that true progress on education will require both more efficient directing of resources and more reform.

"Though most of all, it will require parents to be involved early and to stay the course in their children's education. If we want our children to be able to better compete, then all of us have a role in ensuring that every child gets a world-class education."

The Ministry will focus on its strategic plan for improvement. Priorities include:

• implementing the Cambridge Curriculum in September;

• strengthening principal leadership;

• improving the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom;

• facilitating the improvement of standards via accountability and transparency;

• improving the efficiency of delivery of the educational product;

• maximising the contribution of parents and the community;

• improving school culture and climate.

Education Minister El James said post-Budget: "During the next fiscal year, the Department of Education will continue to provide professional development for teachers so that they can enhance their talents, skills and experiences. This is undoubtedly one of the most important priorities of the department, to improve the standard of teaching in our schools.

"The department will also continue to develop the principals of our public schools into world-class leaders. This will be achieved by building on the very successful workshop facilitated by the Association of Bermuda International Companies which involved public and private school principals as well as business leaders in a forum on turning about schools and school systems."

Shadow Education Minister Grant Gibbons said: "At a first glance, it's difficult to be optimistic because apart from the implementation of the Cambridge Curriculum, the rest of it appears to be business as usual."

Myron Piper of the Bermuda Democratic Alliance said: "I am not surprised at the reduction although I would have expected a bigger reduction considering the continued reduced enrolment rate in the schools. I would like to know what the actual enrolment is for September since the parents have already enrolled their children by now.

"If they're significantly less, does the reduction translate into a legitimate reduction based on the number of students? If not then I would say that this means that the trend is increasing for children to be moved from public schools to the private school sector."