Experts will fly into Bermuda later this school term to carry out an assessment of the Island's curriculum, Education Minister Randolph Horton said yesterday.

During the Budget debate on education, Mr. Horton told the House of Assembly it was vital that the Ministry followed recommendations to improve the curriculum made in the review of the public education system by UK Professor David Hopkins.

The Minister said the report had underlined how not all schools taught the same parts of the curriculum, leading to inconsistencies in students' learning experiences when they start higher levels of education.

"The review of public education cited an unevenness in the curriculum," said Mr. Horton.

"We are working to improve that in a number of ways because our children absolutely must have enriching experiences in all schools."

He continued: "We have no choice but to get it right. Unless we have in place standards seen as credible, a curriculum which is seen to have rigour and even assessment that's valid enough to tell us whether our students are really performing, then we have not done well.

"Later this term, we will hire an overseas firm to conduct a complete review of the local curriculum, so we are sure of its suitability."

Later, Shadow Education Minister Grant Gibbons said that, instead of reviewing its own curriculum, Government should consider adopting models which work well elsewhere.

"Does it make sense to review it, or does it make sense to go out and look at some other people's curriculums and see if we can adopt, for example, the Canadian curriculum?" asked Dr. Gibbons.

Mr. Horton was explaining why the allocation toward curriculum assessment had increased from $2.75 million in 2007-08 to $3.10 million in this year's Budget — an increase of 13 percent.

He also said how, through physical education, the Ministry was seeking to "do its part to stamp out the scourge" of diabetes. Latest figures show the Island's diabetes rate is 13 percent, roughly double that of the US — a phenomenon blamed partly on obesity.

Activities including an aquatic programme helped give the Island's schools a wide sporting programme, said Mr. Horton, while children were also being encouraged to take up golf, inspired by last year's PGA Grand Slam.

Efforts will also be made to step up technical education, the Minister added.

Mr. Horton's speech was peppered by rebukes from chair Dame Jennifer Smith, who repeatedly told the Minister to reserve comments not relating to the Budget to Ministerial statements at a later date.