Education minister details school renovations
Funding allocated to upgrades and renovations across Bermuda’s public schools over the past five years were detailed by the Ministry of Education in response to questions in Parliament.
Crystal Caesar, the Minister of Education, provided a written response to Ben Smith, the Shadow Minister of Education during Friday’s session.
The works, which took place during the 2021-2022 to 2025-26 period, were divided into four categories; minor school works, school safety, bathroom renovations and school equipment.
The expenditures applied to the 30-plus schools from preschools to middle schools, including special schools and alternative programmes in the Bermuda public school system, that support their “safety, functionality and learning environment”. Senior schools are excluded.
Paget Primary School cost the most overall across the four categories at $148,136, followed by Purvis Primary at $128,922, Francis Patton Primary, in Hamilton Parish, at $115,034, Elliot Primary School in Devonshire, at $99,614, and West Pembroke Primary at $87,287.
Minor works focused on upgrading facilities with vinyl plank flooring, PVC window frames, cabinetry, air conditioning units and water fountains.
Paget Primary School had the most minor works done, accounting for $132,830 of the section’s $933,857 between 2021 and 2026.
The other most expensive schools in the category during the time period were Purvis, at $96,004 and Francis Patton at $85,298.
School safety involved testing and improving air quality, buying and installing electric patient-hoist lifts, asbestos testing and remedial work and installing safety fencing and handrails.
Safety expenditure throughout the period totalled $230,109, with the 2023-24 fiscal year being the most expensive at $110,406.
Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy received the most funding in this category at $52,573, followed by Purvis at $30,022.50 and Francis Patton at $24,110.
School bathrooms were renovated to have non-skid floor tiles, water-saving toilets and urinals, LED lights and better ventilation. Renovations cost $37,138 in total.
In the 2021-22 fiscal year, Harrington Sound Primary School bathrooms were renovated for $2,509; St David’s Preschool for $2,200; and Francis Patton for $1,131.
School equipment included furniture, boards and playground equipment and was allocated $268,323 overall.
East End Primary School received the most, with $46,560 worth of equipment, followed by St George’s Preschool at $31,210 and Elliot Primary at $30,243.
Ms Caesar, predicted last month that it could take anywhere between $10 million and $20 million per school to get them up to par.
The Ministry of Education was allocated $156.5 million for the 2026-27 Budget, reflecting an increase of $7.3 million, or 5 per cent, over the previous year.
Public schools saw a 71 per cent boost in capital spending in the Budget for improvements to their buildings and infrastructure.
The Budget also contained a $14-million package for the Ministry of Education to upgrade facilities and invest in new technology at the schools and the Bermuda College.
David Burt, the Premier said of this year’s capital investment: “This includes phased safety and security upgrades, electrical and ICT readiness improvements, and initiatives to improve air quality and cooling in classrooms.
“Capital and operating investments will also support continued enhancements to signature schools at The Berkeley Institute, CedarBridge Academy and Sandys Secondary School, alongside upgrades to technological infrastructure such as modernised computer labs, faster internet access and expanded use of digital learning platforms.”
A graph within the Budget highlighting the capital projects exceeding $1 million showed a $5.6-million allocation for “education reform classrooms”, $3 million for school maintenance and $2.4 million for “education computers”.
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