An education charity has called into question Diallo Rabain’s ability to lead, saying meaningful consultation was required to advance the delayed Education Authority Bill which is expected to be addressed in the next sitting of Parliament.

Bermuda Education Network called for parents and teachers to have a say on the board of the planned authority, legislation for which was presented for debate by the Minister of Education.

Meanwhile, Cindy Corday, the cofounder and former head of school at the Bermuda Centre for Creative Learning, said the Education Authority Bill does not do enough for children with learning differences.

A lengthy debate on the Bill, which has been criticised by education observers, was pushed back on Friday night for two weeks after a motion to rise and report progress moved by the Opposition was approved by a vote of 11-9, with those present voting along party lines.

The Premier took responsibility for the lack of government MPs in the House, and has called an urgent meeting with them and the party executive.

Over the weekend, a spokeswoman for Bermuda Education Network said there was a need for the legislation “to give parents and teachers a real voice”.

The spokeswoman said: “This government is shirking its responsibility for getting the Education Authority right and therefore we support the amendments proposed by the Opposition.”

She said the Premier’s response to the Opposition on the Education Authority Bill was “insulting”, suggesting that amendments were necessary to prevent further risks to the school system.

The organisation highlighted that in 2024, a petition and town hall meeting called on the Government to pause reforms and resolve fundamental issues concerning the future of middle schools, parish primary schools and signature schools.

It was largely owing to a lack of authentic consultation, and the spokeswoman accused Mr Rabain of continuing to put forward “incomplete and flawed reforms”.

She said: “To this day, questions remain unanswered, perhaps the biggest concerning Minister Rabain’s fitness for leadership.

“Our schools cannot accept further uncertainty and disruption, and we call upon parents and teachers to join us in demanding a proper seat at the table because this government is not listening.”

The spokeswoman said provisions in the Bill for one annual report and one public meeting each year by the authority “is not enough”.

Ms Corday also called for parents and teachers to have a say on the board of the authority.

“My concern isn't who won last week's vote,” she said. “It’s that the Bill, as tabled, leaves the changes parents care about for later.

“The authority’s first job is to make recommendations and there is no deadline for the follow-up Bill that would actually change what happens in schools.

“Parents and teachers have no guaranteed seat on the board, and the public would see only one annual report and one public meeting a year in each school zone.”

Ms Corday said having worked with hundreds of families at the BCCL, she was familiar with the “real sacrifices” made by parents to gather support for children who learn differently.

“Nothing in the Bill commits the Government to creating that support,” she emphasised.

Ms Corday welcomed the Government's plans to amend the Bill on appointments and on the authority publishing its own reports.

The Bill creates an offence, attracting a fine of up to $25,000, for disclosure of certain information by authority board members.

Ms Corday said: “The extra time should be used to go further — set a deadline for the follow-up Bill, require parent and teacher seats on the board and on school boards, protect good-faith disclosure of concerns, and publish yearly results that families care about.

“Everyone agrees reform is overdue. We need to make sure the legislation gives parents a real voice.”

The Ministry of Education did not respond to questions by press time.

Mr Rabain earlier called on MPs to set aside politics and put the island’s children first as the House of Assembly prepared to debate the landmark legislation for the creation of an independent education authority.

He also said the legislation was not “about protecting the authority” of the education minister.

The vote-to-delay debate came amid questions from the Opposition about the independence of the Education Authority.

Last month, Mr Rabin noted in an op-ed that the minister merely performs the formal appointment to the authority’s board.

He wrote then: “The people appointed must emerge through the process established around that appointment.

“That is an important distinction between ministerial appointment and ministerial control.”