Smith calls for transparency over ‘lack of certified teachers’
The Shadow Minister of Education has called on the Government to provide a “real” update about education reform, claiming insufficient certified teaching staff were on hand to fill classrooms in the public system.
Ben Smith released a statement shortly after Crystal Caesar, the education minister, spoke in the Senate today on changes to education reform plans.
Ms Caesar’s statement about the need to “stabilise” reform largely revisited information released this month, including that the Government will not announce the opening of new schools until their required infrastructure has been completed.
However, she told the Upper House there would be efforts to improve outcomes in reading, maths and science.
Mr Smith said that staffing challenges persisted, and called for “immediate transparency by publishing teacher vacancy numbers, substitute fill-rates and support-staff allocations for every school”.
He asked for a staffing plan outlining recruitment and retention, enhancements for support staff including the training of paraprofessionals and counsellors to teachers and early intervention timelines to “guarantee maximum response times when a teacher requests behavioural or learning support for a student”.
Mr Smith said: “Bermuda’s parents, teachers and students deserve straight answers.
“Why are substitute teachers having to wait to be paid? Why are there too few certified teachers to fill classrooms?
“Why do we lack enough paraprofessionals to support students with learning and behavioural needs?
“When students are identified with behavioural challenges early in the school year, how long does it take for a teacher to receive proper classroom support?
“Do we even have enough trained staff to meet the needs already identified this term?
“In the meantime, what happens to learning in that classroom, both for the student in need and for their peers while the system struggles to respond?
“The ministry’s own budget shows total staff numbers relatively steady for the past five years, despite the closure of several schools. So why are we seeing more teacher shortages, heavier reliance on substitutes and rising classroom pressures?
“Clearly, there is a deeper problem. Why were these shortages and gaps not identified and addressed before September 2025? Why are families and teachers left to deal with the consequences of poor planning year after year?”
Ms Caesar’s statement briefly covered aspects of recruitment including that all primary and middle schools now have principals in charge rather than acting principals.
She also told the Senate that “critical leadership and curriculum vacancies” were being filled within the Department of Education.
She said: “The shift to stabilise our school system has already started. As a result of reassignments, resignations and retirements, a number of primary and middle schools were previously led by acting principals.
“After recruitment and other staffing changes, all primary and middle schools are now led by principals who hold their posts substantively.
“This will provide consistency and stability for each school community.
“Critical leadership and curriculum support vacancies are being filled within the Department of Education.
“This will increase supervision, support and accountability for teaching, learning and service delivery.”
Addressing academic performance, Ms Caesar added: “Within our schools, we will systematically refocus on improving the teaching and learning of reading, maths and science, improving the multi-tiered system of support process.”
Victoria Cunningham, a One Bermuda Alliance senator, asked Crystal Caesar, the Minister of Education, what measures are in place and planned to ensure the safety and security of students and staff in public high schools in light of a recent rise in community violence across the island.
Ms Caesar responded: “The Ministry of Education remains deeply concerned about the recent increase in community violence and its impact on our school environments.
“The safety and security of students and staff across all public schools, and particularly within our senior schools, continues to be a foundational priority.
“Senior schools have a range of measures in place aimed at fostering safe and supportive learning spaces.
“They include, but are not limited to, staff training, emergency drills, targeted programmes and other proactive strategies.
“In addition, trained and licensed security officers are present at the senior schools in particular and are active every day which serves as a deterrent to negative behaviours.
“In their roles, they get to know the staff, students and the school culture which also supports prevention, early intervention and de-escalation measures if needed.”
The security officers along with physical barriers are in place, she said.
Ms Caesar encouraged parents to speak to their children to help reinforce school messages, safety measures and expectations regarding school safety and behaviour.
The minister said a system-wide review of safety in schools was continuing, to inform policies and any operational measures that may be required.
She added: “The Department of Education has also established a relationship with the Bermuda Police Service.
“The collaboration has been invaluable in terms of providing intervention and guidance.”
She said school culture would be improved as well, adding: “All of these efforts aim to improve student outcomes across all year levels.”
She reiterated the policy to prohibit students from using personal electronic devices during school hours, and the introduction of a modern code of conduct incorporating restorative practices with a tiered approach to disciplinary matters.
Ms Caesar said she had met with education stakeholders to listen to their interests and concerns, and said that success depended on collaboration with partner ministries including public works and health along with youth, social development and seniors.
She added: “While we transform, we must also stabilise, and we will do this by strengthening our focus on improving teaching and learning.
“In fact, we have already started.
“We will also defer certain aspects of the education transformation programme.
“To improve planning, programming and co-ordination with partner ministries, as mentioned, we have rescinded the timeline for school closures and openings beyond 2025.
“We will continue working on the master plan for education transformation and develop a realistic and deliverable infrastructure strategy.
“Although schools under transformation have done an admirable job balancing their teaching and learning responsibilities while undertaking major building and operational changes, the ministry will ensure that future infrastructure changes are completed before school openings and closings are announced.
“We will intentionally pace and co-ordinate the infrastructure design and development work needed to support teaching and learning.
“Our goal is to give students, parents and staff members adequate information and sufficient time to prepare for future changes.”
Ms Caesar did not give a date for when the revised master plan and infrastructure schedule would be completed.
Reform plans include the phasing out of middle schools, the introduction of parish primary schools, senior signature and the exceptionalities and alternative education schools.
Ms Caesar said the school for exceptionalities “remains a high system priority” and that a design team would begin development work this term.
The Ministry of Education has been asked for comment.
• To read the minister’s statement in full, see Related Media
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