For years, the Government has promised education reform. Yet its record has been defined by a lack of transparency, weak accountability, uncertainty in leadership and the absence of a clear long-term plan for improving educational outcomes.

Now the Premier has announced that establishing an education authority is a priority for his government. The Opposition welcomes that commitment because we have consistently supported the creation of an independent education authority for Bermuda’s public schools. However, there is an important difference between the Government’s proposal and the principle we have consistently advanced.

The Government speaks about an education authority while we have consistently called for an independent education authority. Educational independence is not determined by who provides the funding. It is determined by how the system is governed. Government funding does not prevent educational independence but political control does.

An independent education authority for Bermuda’s public schools must be more than another government board that can be populated with political loyalists. It must be established in law with clear safeguards that ensure educational decisions are made through independent educational governance, transparent processes and measurable accountability.

Before this legislation comes before Parliament, Bermudians deserve answers to some fundamental questions:

• Will educational decisions be made independently of day-to-day political direction?

• Will appointments be based on merit, qualifications and educational expertise?

• Will the authority have clear statutory responsibilities and measurable performance standards?

• Will Bermudians receive regular public reporting on educational outcomes and the authority’s performance?

• Will the legislation include safeguards that protect independent educational governance for future generations, regardless of which political party forms the government?

These are not technical questions. They are the foundation upon which public confidence in the new authority will be built.

In announcing that the education authority is now a priority, the Premier described it as a long-promised reform after years of consultation. If that is the case, there can be no justification for asking Parliament or the public to consider such significant legislation without first publishing the governance model, implementation plan, consultation findings, performance framework and transition plan.

The implementation of education reform to date has been marked by uncertainty, changing timelines, inconsistent communication and a loss of public confidence. This government cannot afford to repeat those mistakes. If it genuinely wants to build confidence in an independent education authority for Bermuda’s public schools, it must begin with transparency, clear planning and measurable outcomes.

The Opposition will judge this legislation against three fundamental principles: educational independence, transparency and accountability

Those principles will determine whether this legislation represents genuine educational governance reform or simply a change in administrative structure using some of the same flaws.

Over the coming days, the Opposition will outline what each of these principles means in practice and the standards we believe an independent education authority for Bermuda’s public schools must meet.

Bermuda deserves to see the evidence before it is asked to accept the conclusions. Our children deserve more than another announcement. They deserve an education system built on independent educational governance, transparent decision-making, accountable leadership and a relentless focus on improving outcomes for every student.

• Ben Smith is the Leader of the Opposition and One Bermuda Alliance MP for Smith’s South (Constituency 8)