I was recently asked by someone unfamiliar with Bermuda to describe the island's biggest social challenges. My first instinct was to say that Bermuda faces a unique combination of issues: an ageing population, pressure on our healthcare system, a housing crisis and a struggling public education system. On reflection, however, our challenges are not especially unique. What is unusual is our willingness to tolerate problems long after it is clear they are not being solved.

Public education illustrates this perfectly.

Successful education systems require three things: talented people, adequate resources and effective leadership. Bermuda already has the first two. Public education receives more than $150 million annually, and after many years working alongside teachers through Bermuda Education Network and the Outstanding Teacher Awards, I know our schools are filled with dedicated and capable professionals.

What has been missing is consistent, trusted leadership.

That is why last week's ministerial changes matter. They are about far more than who occupies the Minister of Education's office. They raise a much bigger question: how should Bermuda govern its education system, take the politics out of the equation and restore confidence among teachers, principals and parents?

The past five years have left many stakeholders feeling that decisions have become increasingly centralised while the voices of those closest to students have carried less weight. The result has been declining trust.

The recent pause in parts of the education reform programme, following years of uncertainty, only reinforces how important it is to build reforms around genuine consultation and broad consensus rather than expecting schools simply to adapt to decisions made elsewhere.

This is why I believe Bermuda should take this opportunity to reconsider the way education is governed.

Before creating an Education Authority, there should be meaningful public consultation about its purpose, its powers and how it will be held accountable. Government should establish a cross-party working group to review the current reform programme and identify what has worked, what has not and what needs to change. We should also be willing to examine whether greater school autonomy, including charter-style legislation, could create stronger local leadership and insulate schools from the changing political tides.

The objective should not be an Education Authority which further centralises power and decision making. It should be creating a climate where school leaders have the authority and support to solve problems, teachers feel heard and parents are respected as partners.

Reasonable people will disagree about the performance of individual ministers. Crystal Caesar inherited an exceptionally difficult portfolio and faced significant challenges during her short tenure. Likewise, many of the concerns surrounding Diallo Rabain's previous period as minister have been well documented, from stakeholder opposition to aspects of reform through to the substantial investment in external consultants that has yet to deliver the transformation many expected.

Perhaps the greatest obstacle is not political but cultural. In a small community, many of us hesitate to speak openly. We worry about offending colleagues, creating awkward encounters or becoming the target of criticism ourselves. I am no different. I have written more opinion pieces than I have submitted.

But silence has a cost. If we genuinely believe education is fundamental to Bermuda's future prosperity, then teachers, parents, charities, employers and community leaders all have a responsibility to speak honestly about what is working and what is not.

This is not a criticism of personality. It is a criticism of leadership. Bermuda's public schools cannot afford another cycle of declining confidence, shifting priorities and strained relationships between politicians and the people responsible for educating our children every day.

We often encourage our students to be the change they want to see in the world. Perhaps it is time for our political leaders to embrace that same principle. Our public schools have so much potential!

If we are serious about improving outcomes, people across the political divide must listen to one another and put the long-term interests of Bermuda's children ahead of short-term political victories.

• Becky Ausenda is the founder and executive director of the Bermuda Education Network