Bermuda's parents and teachers would have more say over how children are taught under a United Bermuda Party plan to further involve stakeholders in the education system, it was announced yesterday.

While accusing Government of failing the Island's children, the party unveiled plans to revamp public schools by creating parental coordinators at schools and introducing the drawing up of contracts to be signed by both parents and teachers.

Education Minister Paula Cox was unavailable for comment yesterday but she told the House of Assembly in February that Government "has not failed" and pointed out successes in the reduction of class sizes and the implementation of a single curriculum at the primary school level.

The UBP's announcements were part of a package which also proposed tougher standards to ensure the practice of "social promotion" dies out in public schools and which would see all students leaving secondary education equipped with some form of international accreditation.

Another proposal, announced earlier this year, includes the reintroduction of the Bermuda Tech graduation curriculum which would allow students to gain qualifications in technical vocations.

UBP education spokesman Tim Smith said the measures to decentralise power from the Ministry of Education were essential in order to stop students from leaving the public school system and entering the private sector.

"Our children are our future and it's time to move education back into the hands of educators," Mr. Smith said. "When our public schools spend almost $16,000 per student and produce some children who can't even fill out a job application, it's quite clear that something has gone horribly wrong."

He proposed allowing principals to take charge of the maintenance of their schools in a bid to save time and money.

And he said establishing a formal bond between parents and individual schools was important because "it's only natural to expect parents to volunteer their precious time and energy with their children's school, rather than the Ministry of Education".

UBP candidate Leonard Santucci said the reintroduction of the highly successful Bermuda Tech programme would be coordinated with the business community and Bermuda College "to establish realistic and achievable standards for certification".

"Some students have needs that are not necessarily met by an academic environment and with the creation of a technical education curriculum, every student will have the opportunity to maximise their full potential," said Rev. Santucci.

It was also announced that, should the UBP win the July 24 election, tougher standards will be introduced for the subjects of reading and maths, as well as new standards for science.

And former UBP Senator Yvette Swan added: "The UBP will once and for all put an end to social promotion. No child should move ahead in school without the skills they need to compete. To do otherwise is not only disruptive to other students, but is unfair to the child who is constantly being forced to play catch-up."