Parents will get the chance to find out more about the reform of the public school system and ask questions of Education Minister Randy Horton this week.

Mr. Horton and his team are holding three meetings across the Island to update the public on the changes being made to schools following last year's damning Hopkins report.

This evening's (Monday) meeting is at St. James Church Hall, Middle Rd, Sandys at 6 p.m. There is a meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) at the same time at the World Heritage Centre, Penno's Wharf, St. George's.

On Wednesday, the public forum will be at 6 p.m. at the Cathedral Hall, Church Street, Hamilton.

It is now more than 12 months since Professor Hopkins delivered his verdict on the Island's public schools, describing them as being on the "brink of meltdown".

An interim board has been working since then to implement changes in schools. On Friday, the House of Assembly heard that a bipartisan parliamentary committee to oversee the reform is to be set up — almost a year after it was first promised.

The joint select committee to consider and review the recommendations in the Hopkins report could be appointed within the next fortnight.

Education Minister Randy Horton first tabled the motion last June but MPs were told Government had not had time to move on the issue due to the summer recess, general election and budget.

Acting Education Minister El James said: "The membership of this joint select committee will be announced by the Government as soon as the motion has been approved by this honourable house; hopefully within the next two weeks.

"I am pleased that in the spirit of inclusiveness the leadership of the party which sits opposite has been consulted and is in full agreement with the plan.

"While parties may not see eye-to-eye on every matter this is a national imperative — one for which we must put aside party lines and work together in honesty and in truth for the benefit of all Bermuda's students."

The House of Assembly was due to hear a motion from Shadow Education Minister Grant Gibbons on Friday calling for the select committee — which will include both MPs and Senators — to be set up but it was carried over to a later date.

He told The Royal Gazette that the Government and the Opposition would decide together who would serve on the committee.

Mr. James told MPs that Government was advocating strongly on behalf of students with English exam board AQA to try to get 6 a.m. start times for forthcoming GCSE and AS Level exams changed.

He said Mr. Horton had also written to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in the UK to voice his concerns about the effect it could have on the performance of pupils.

Scores of students at CedarBridge Academy, the Berkeley Institute, Bermuda High School for Girls and Saltus Grammar School will have to be in school by 5.30 a.m. for the exams so they can sit them at the same time as Britain.

Saltus parent teacher association is supplying breakfast items for the 28 students taking AS Mathematics and ICT exams this Thursday and Friday.

BHS parents plan to do the same and are writing to AQA to protest against the start times.