The recommended senior-level shake-up at the Education Ministry should have been confronted years ago under previous PLP Premiers, according to a consultant for current Premier Ewart Brown.

Rolfe Commissiong shared his observation the morning after Professor David Hopkins and his team revealed the findings of a comprehensive education review. The report branded the Education Ministry as being “poorly led” and in need of major personnel changes.

Both Premier Ewart Brown and Education Minister Randolph Horton indicated changes will happen despite the turmoil which may ensue.

Mr. Commissiong is perhaps echoing many in the public when he says the shake-up is long overdue. But he goes a step further when he accuses Premiers Dame Jennifer Smith and Alex Scott of doing too little.

He said: “With respect to much of this, the first PLP Government in ‘98, ‘99, 2000 should have begun the process of tackling many of these issues in the type of assertive manner we’re seeing now. It’s easy to cry over spilled milk. I shared some of those concerns during that era. But I’m very, very happy to say now without any reservations that we are currently on the right track.”

When asked to explain why he thought the previous Premiers were less proactive in making sweeping changes at the Ministry, he said: “The public is very aware of my unsparing criticism of the two prior PLP Premiers, particularly the first one, but I think there were some cultural dynamics taking place.

“I think that in Bermuda the habit is: you try to avoid confrontation, even when that confrontation is wholly necessary to achieve a necessary objective. Too often we seek to avoid confrontation to go along and get along even at the expense of our national interest.”

Former Premier Alex Scott called Mr. Commissiong’s comments “absolutely nonsense with no bearing on the truth” and said the consultant never knew any of the facts necessary to make the judgments he’s making because he was not on the inside.

Of the newly released education review Mr. Scott said: “There are no quick fixes to the challenges on our institutions, education is one of them.

“We’ve had the analysis presented, it is up to us now to see if in one, two, three, four years we are able to make significant changes based not only on this report but many other reports.

“We have to be careful we don’t throw out the baby with the bath water. One report does not an excellent school system make. It’s going to take time, co-operation from all quarters. I’m sure the current Premier is aware, I was aware of it and the former Premier, she was aware of it.”

The Hopkins report concluded it was a mistake to change the public education system in the first place. That decision was made by a United Bermuda Party Government and put into place in 1997.

Perhaps as long ago as then, people inside and outside the education community held the belief that the Ministry’s senior leadership “stifles” system wide progress, as the review confirmed. But the axe on personnel never fell.

Minister of Social Rehabilitation Dale Butler, a former school principal, indicated in a radio interview Friday that he would have cleared house at the Education Ministry years ago if he was the Minister. He also said he decried many of the same findings as Professor Hopkins.

Under previous administrations there was action, but none as decisive as is being proposed now. And to date, even under Premier Brown, there have been no sweeping changes yet, but Mr. Commissiong believes this time will be different. However, it won’t be easy.

“It will be difficult, but not impossible. It can be done. We have to weigh the broader interest of the Bermudian community — our young people now and future generations against the self-interests of a few. I think Bermudian people now will have a renewed sense of confidence and hope that the ship of education is going to be righted.”

The Bermuda Public Service Union (BPSU) has been listening attentively to the report’s findings and the resulting public debate. The harshly criticised civil servants at the Education Ministry are members of BPSU.

The organisation’s president Armell Thomas says he “takes exception” to some of the criticism levelled. He is expecting to meet with his general secretary early in the week so they can discuss how the situation should be handled.

But in the meantime, Mr. Thomas is urging political leaders to hold off on the blame game.

He said: “They’re looking for somebody to blame. But both parties, the UBP and PLP, need to sit down and figure out a plan going forward. We’re talking about our future so we can’t have any politicking going on — ministers change. There should be a concession plan put in place so that no matter who takes over we have a plan. We need stability.”

Mr. Thomas said a concession plan was paramount because over the past decade or so there have been many Education Ministers. According to a review by The Royal Gazette there have been ten Education Ministers in the past 15 years.

Mr. Thomas said he would thoroughly explain the BPSU’s position after he’s had some time to consult with his colleagues. So it’s not presently clear what level of resistance, if any, will materialise to fight back the shake-up recommended by Professor Hopkins.

People close to the Premier, like Mr. Commissiong, have suggested the changes will be imminent in order to effect change as quickly as possible — potentially by the end of the next school year.

The Cabinet Office staff member also made an effort to correct people who might think the education review was the beginning of the reformation process.

By his analysis, the path of Dr. Brown-led reform dates back to the day the Education Minister went public with shockingly low graduation rates.

Mr. Commissiong said: “Previous Premiers, both UBP and PLP, would not have taken the opportunity as he did to seize the bull by the horns by ensuring that the graduation results would be made public. That’s the key to unlock the barn door for reform.

“He was willing to take that political risk because he knew that it would present opportunity and we are seeing the realisation on that opportunity right now — putting a halt to what has been characterised quite rightly as a dysfunctional education system and bringing in progressive reform in a manner that will see significant changes fairly soon.”

An effort last night to reach former Premier Dame Jennifer Smith was unsuccessful.

‘There are no quick fixes to Education’