Significant unnecessary disruption across the public school system has been caused by a “deeply troubling sequence of communications” from the Ministry of Education this week, the Bermuda Union of Teachers has said.

The organisation stated that it was “compelled to speak out” as “revelations … caused widespread confusion, anxiety and frustration among principals, teachers, parents and students”.

It said: “School leaders were summoned to a meeting with less than 24 hours’ notice, and presented with a plan described as being ‘cosigned’ by principals, when — in fact — it only reflected the views of a small subset of Bermuda public school system principals.

“On the same day, teachers and parents were called into emergency meetings where this proposal was presented — not as a discussion point but as the confirmed new direction for education reform.

“Schools have been left to manage the fallout of these communications without clarity, documentation or proper engagement after neither teachers nor their union were properly consulted before these announcements.

“This approach has created massively unnecessary disruption across the system.”

Jonathan Tankard, the BUT president, added last night: “What we have seen over the past 24 hours is not leadership through clarity, it is confusion caused by rushed decisions and poor communication.

“Teachers and principals were placed in impossible positions and parents were left anxious because information was shared without honesty or proper process.”

Principals held meetings on Wednesday evening with parents of pupils in the most immediately affected year groups and schools, which included sectors of the island’s four operational parish schools: Francis Patton Primary School, Purvis Primary School, Harrington Sound Primary School and Elliot Primary School.

Talks also took place at Sandys Secondary Middle School, Dellwood Middle School and Whitney Institute Middle School.

Under the former reform plans, middle schools were to be abolished, and in turn, primary schools — typically one for each parish with the exception of Pembroke and St George’s — were to add two more years, so that they would run from Years 1 to 8, while senior schools would teach Years 9 to 13.

The latest proposal recommends that primary schools revert to offering P1 to P6 year levels, while “satellite locations” at Dellwood, Sandys Secondary and Whitney Institute middle schools would teach Years 7 to 9, at “lower secondary level” [formerly M1 to M3].

Students would then transition to “upper secondary school” at the end of Year 9.

Concerned parents and education stakeholders have insisted the latest change is a cloaked retention of the three-tier, middle school system with an $8.4 million overseas consultancy bill attached.

The BUT said it was concerned that the ministry’s public narrative does not align with what teachers reported directly to the union, nor with what parents shared publicly about how meetings unfolded.

Dante Cooper, the BUT general secretary said: “If the ministry’s public statements are accurate, then it should be quite straightforward to clearly explain what the plan actually is.

“To date, that has not happened. Instead, we’ve seen fragmented messaging that presents proposals as decisions and consultation as an afterthought.”

The union added that for almost ten years, education reform has been “grounded in engagement, co-design and stakeholder feedback”.

It added: “Teachers and parents have continued to engage with the burden of reform because they were part of the process and because decisions, even when difficult, were communicated through established consultative structures.

That standard has not been met this week.

Mr Tankard added: “Teachers did not create this mess. Parents did not create this mess. Students certainly did not create this mess.

“It is the result of a failure to consult meaningfully and to communicate responsibly.”

The union said: “Meaningful consultation is not optional. It is required under established policy, procedure and the collective bargaining agreement.

“It is also essential to maintaining trust in a public education system already under significant strain.”

Mr Cooper added: “Students, parents and teachers cannot take another round of uncertainty driven by unclear leadership.

“If there is a plan, then lay it out clearly. If there is not, then stop presenting proposals as settled decisions.

“The people of Bermuda and its children deserve better.”

The union called on the Ministry of Education and the Government to immediately pause further announcements, correct the record where necessary and engage in genuine, structured consultation with teachers, parents and school communities before any further steps are taken.