The teachers’ union branded the Government’s latest shift on education reform a “massive failure” and has pledged to stand by its members as they navigate uncertain waters.

Significant unnecessary disruption across the public school system has been caused by a “deeply troubling sequence of communications” from the Ministry of Education this week, the Bermuda Union of Teachers said.

The organisation stated that it was “compelled to speak out” as “revelations … caused widespread confusion, anxiety and frustration among principals, teachers, parents and students”.

It said: “School leaders were summoned to a meeting with less than 24 hours’ notice, and presented with a plan described as being ‘cosigned’ by principals, when — in fact — it only reflected the views of a small subset of Bermuda public school system principals.

“On the same day, teachers and parents were called into emergency meetings where this proposal was presented — not as a discussion point but as the confirmed new direction for education reform.

“Schools have been left to manage the fallout of these communications without clarity, documentation or proper engagement after neither teachers nor their union were properly consulted before these announcements.

“This approach has created massively unnecessary disruption across the system.”

The BUT said in a letter to members: “The ministry must own this massive failure in their education reform plan and address our members — and the public — with genuine humility and contrition for the instability they’ve caused.”

Crystal Caesar, the education minister, insisted this afternoon: “I want to make it abundantly clear that no decisions have been made regarding the critical next steps in education transformation.”

She added that all affected schools had been involved in meetings since last December.

Jonathan Tankard, the BUT president, said last night: “What we have seen over the past 24 hours is not leadership through clarity, it is confusion caused by rushed decisions and poor communication.

“Teachers and principals were placed in impossible positions and parents were left anxious because information was shared without honesty or proper process.”

The BUT launched a members’ survey, seen by the Gazette, related to the reforms to capture information on “consultation, workload, teaching and learning, facilities and student impact”.

Questions included whether teachers were consulted on the potential changes, whether facilities and space were a barrier to delivering high-quality teaching, and what was contributing to “teacher fatigue”.

Principals held meetings on Wednesday evening with parents of pupils in the most immediately affected year groups and schools, which included sectors of the island’s four operational parish schools: Francis Patton School, Purvis Parish School, Harrington Sound School and Elliot School.

Talks also took place at Sandys Secondary Middle School, Dellwood Middle School and Whitney Institute Middle School.

Under the earlier reform plans, middle schools would be abolished, and in turn, primary schools — typically one for each parish with the exception of Pembroke and St George’s — were to add two more years, so that they would run from Years 1 to 8, while senior schools would teach Years 9 to 13.

The latest proposal recommends that primary schools revert to offering P1 to P6 year levels, while “satellite locations” at Dellwood, Sandys Secondary and Whitney Institute middle schools would teach Years 7 to 9, at “lower secondary level” [formerly M1 to M3].

Students would then transition to “upper secondary school” at the end of Year 9.

Concerned parents and education stakeholders have insisted the potential change is a cloaked retention of the three-tier, middle school system with an $8.4 million overseas consultancy bill attached.

The BUT said it was concerned that the ministry’s public narrative does not align with what teachers reported directly to the union, nor with what parents shared publicly about how meetings unfolded.

Dante Cooper, the BUT general secretary said last night: “If the ministry’s public statements are accurate, then it should be quite straightforward to clearly explain what the plan actually is.

“To date, that has not happened. Instead, we’ve seen fragmented messaging that presents proposals as decisions and consultation as an afterthought.”

The union added that for almost ten years, education reform has been “grounded in engagement, co-design and stakeholder feedback”.

It added: “Teachers and parents have continued to engage with the burden of reform because they were part of the process and because decisions, even when difficult, were communicated through established consultative structures.

“That standard has not been met this week.”

Mr Tankard added: “Teachers did not create this mess. Parents did not create this mess. Students certainly did not create this mess.

“It is the result of a failure to consult meaningfully and to communicate responsibly.”

The union said: “Meaningful consultation is not optional. It is required under established policy, procedure and the collective bargaining agreement.

“It is also essential to maintaining trust in a public education system already under significant strain.”

Mr Cooper added: “Students, parents and teachers cannot take another round of uncertainty driven by unclear leadership.

“If there is a plan, then lay it out clearly. If there is not, then stop presenting proposals as settled decisions.

“The people of Bermuda and its children deserve better.”

The union called on the Ministry of Education and the Government to immediately pause further announcements, correct the record where necessary and engage in genuine, structured consultation with teachers, parents and school communities before any further steps are taken.

Ms Caesar said this afternoon that she invited the principals for middle and primary parish schools last December to join her in a “think-tank session” to review vital information around school readiness for September 2026, including enrolment data and registration.

“As the frontline leaders in schools, it makes sense to hear from them as we prepare for student transitions in September 2026,” she explained.

The minister added: “In addition to meetings with principals, there have been discussions with school boards, unions, additional school principals, staff and parents at affected schools, as well as with Department of Education staff, making for a total of 21 stakeholder meetings.

“We have received recommendations from principals on the intended student transitions which are aimed at ensuring schools have the right facilities and supporting students’ developmental readiness.

“We will continue stakeholder engagement and welcome feedback.”

Ms Caesar said that the 2026-27 school year would be a “pivotal year in our education transformation”.

She added that, as a result, the ministry was “taking the time to consult widely, listen intently and expect that in mid-February we will be able to inform our internal stakeholders first, followed by a public announcement on agreed next steps”.