The Ministry of Education has acknowledged teachers’ concerns about education reform and underscored the importance of adjusting the system.

A spokeswoman recognised educators’ statements about workload, classroom behaviour and the pace of changes to public schools.

She said: “These concerns deserve to be heard and we take these concerns seriously.

“Teachers play a vital role in the success of our education system and their perspectives will be an important part of this process.”

The spokeswoman explained that education reform was undertaken because too many pupils were not getting the outcomes they “deserved and needed”.

She added: “While there have been adjustments to timelines and elements of implementation along the way, our goal has remained the same — creating a stronger public education system that gives every child the opportunity to succeed.”

The ministry was speaking after the Bermuda Union of Teachers criticised it for lack of progress on reform and demanded a clear plan for the future.

Yesterday, Dante Cooper, the general secretary of the BUT, shared teachers’ frustration over what they see as minimal progress despite spending “nearly eight years and tens of millions of public dollars”.

He called on education minister Crystal Caesar to publish a comprehensive report on the status of all aspects of reform and share when further consultation would take place.

Mr Cooper also demanded data on performance and enrolment, better interaction with teachers and parents and transparency around financing.

The spokeswoman said the ministry made sure to engage the public through meetings with the BUT, consulting school leadership teams, hosting public information sessions and offering public updates.

She said that stakeholders were always invited to offer feedback as plans changed.

She explained: “The ministry believes the most productive conversations are those that take place directly with stakeholders around the table, where concerns can be discussed openly and solutions can be developed collaboratively.

“While public discussion has an important role to play, lasting progress is achieved through meaningful engagement, mutual respect and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for students.”

She added that it was important to keep the shared goal of “providing Bermuda’s children with the best possible education and the opportunities that come with it”.

She welcomed further discussions with the public, which she described as “healthy” despite any disagreements.

She said: “Our children only get one chance at an education. That is why we remain committed to working with teachers, parents, students and the wider community in a spirit of partnership and respect to ensure every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”