The independent review into Bermuda’s failing public education system cost almost a quarter of a million dollars, it has emerged.

Education Minister Randy Horton, in answer to parliamentary questions from former Opposition leader Grant Gibbons, revealed that the final bill for the inquiry — which resulted in a damning report being delivered earlier this month on the Island’s public schools — was $241,411.

Mr. Horton said the Bank of Bermuda would pay half the amount with the rest coming from public funds. Professor Hopkins and his team of five education experts — including two Bermudians — were paid $144,925. Mr. Horton added that Professor Hopkins had not been asked to undertake any other work by Government but that he and his team had offered to assist with “progressing” the recommendations from the review.

In a television and radio broadcast on May 3, Premier Ewart Brown said the review — launched after more than half the Island’s senior school students failed to graduate last year — confirmed “what we know as a community to be true”.

Shadow Education Minister Dr. Gibbons told The Royal Gazette that the Hopkins report came to many of the same conclusions as a document delivered to Government last November by the Association of School Principals. “How could the Minister not pay attention then?” he said. “He is even a member of this association. I think it’s very disrespectful.”

He added: “It’s very easy to come along with a consultant and tell everybody what most people know and basically point fingers. It’s another thing entirely to actually implement change and make it work. I have no problem with Mr. Hopkins. I have a problem with the way this whole thing has been handled up to this point.”