Education Authority gets its day in House of Assembly
The Education Authority Bill overhauling the governance of the island’s public school system will go before legislators for debate today in the House of Assembly.
The legislation will replace the Department of Education with what Diallo Rabain, the Minister of Education, described as a nine-member “public body held at arm’s length from day-to-day politics”.
Ben Smith, the Opposition leader and shadow education minister, said the One Bermuda Alliance supported the move.
However, Mr Smith said the Opposition had flagged up ten areas for change in the legislation, which he said would otherwise “lead to failure”.
Mr Smith said the authority’s top job needed to be “improved learning, student progress and educational opportunity”, with independent, external assessments of schools and the authority itself as well as guaranteed independence from political interference.
He called for a governing board for each school, including “individual primary-school boards through a funded recruitment and training programme”.
Mr Smith said “generic educational results” should be published and that ministerial directions should be transparent. He also called for the authority’s budget to get parliamentary scrutiny.
Other proposals included effective teacher training and fair employment practices, stronger student support and bolstered independent oversight.
The legislation is the lone item for debate by MPs.
David Burt, the Premier and Minister of Finance, is expected to outline a new round of tax relief measures to provide further financial support to Bermudians, with the 2026-27 midyear review.
Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, will update the House of the 2025-26 annual report of the Department of Financial Assistance, while Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, is to speak on the island’s “economic and employment drivers”.
MPs will hear an update on the replacement of the island’s asphalt plant along with the road-paving programme from Jaché Adams, the Minister of Public Works and Environment.
Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Transport, Culture and Sport, is to deliver a statement on the island’s “garage compliance programme”.
• To read the order of business for the House of Assembly, see Related Media
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