Parents of Year 6 and 7 pupils can choose to keep their children in parish primary schools for Years 7 and 8 or admit them to middle school in September, the Minister of Education announced today.

The temporary freeze on reforms comes after confusion over plans for the island’s public school system, which were thrown into doubt last month.

Parents were told a month ago that changes from a three-tier to a two-tier system were going ahead but parents said a new proposal outlined at that time appeared to be a three-tier system by a different name.

That proposal recommended 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.

The announcement sparked outcry from parents after years of overhaul.

In the latest move, Crystal Caesar, the Minister of Education, said parents who had already registered their children for a middle school, could also request to keep them in parish schools.

The placement measure is among several affecting middle and parish school students announced by Ms Caesar as she assured the community that there were no plans to close any public schools for the foreseeable future.

Ms Caesar added: “As with this year, students will not transition to senior signature schools for Year 9 in September. Current M3/Year 9 students’ selected senior signature school placements will be honoured.

“Current M2 will remain at their present middle school sites.”

She said she understood that parents wanted certainty and straightforward communication.

She added: “When school resumes after the midterm break, we will meet directly with parents of Year 8 and M2 students to review the logistics and next steps.”

She said a meeting was planned for February 24.

Ms Caesar added that Year 6 pupils who had already registered for middle school were expected to receive their placement confirmations during the week of March 2.

Year 8 students at parish schools may choose to attend either Dellwood, Whitney or Sandys, she said.

“Our responsibility is to ensure every child can learn with confidence today while we build a stronger education system for tomorrow,” Ms Caesar said.

“Our focus is simple; every student in our classrooms today must feel supported, safe and able to succeed while we continue improving the education system for the future.

“That means strengthening teaching and learning while families [have] clear guidance about what to expect for the next school year.”

Ben Smith, the Opposition leader and shadow education minister, called the latest move “unacceptable” and said it had left the community stressed.

He added: “Parents have endured months of uncertainty and anxiety, with some opting to take on the added expense of paying for private schools. Others have felt they had no choice but to leave Bermuda in search of a better education for their children.

“And now the public is told that everything is being paused? Does that sound fair to students, parents or educators?

“By pausing the reform, is Minister Caesar admitting that the school closures, and the reform overall, is an error?”

A government spokeswoman said that over the past month, the Ministry of Education had met several stakeholders, including Parent-Teacher Association executives of parish and middle schools; the Bermuda Union of Teachers; the Bermuda Public Services Union; Department of Education staff; school principals; school boards; and affected teachers and parents.

She said the ministry was grateful for the “frank, honest feedback” regarding recommendations shared with the principals of four parish schools as well as middle and senior school principals.

She emphasised that alongside stability within the system “the ministry remains focused on strengthening literacy and numeracy, improving teaching and learning, supporting wellbeing and maintaining safe and inclusive school environments”.