Renovations to make schools fit for purpose could cost $10 million to $20 million for each school, the Minister of Education said yesterday.

Crystal Caesar, who took office a year ago, told The Royal Gazette that it was also time to get realistic about what could be done with the money available.

Speaking at the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce 2026 Budget Breakfast and Economic Forum yesterday, she said Bermuda had spent years “dreaming big”.

However, rather than focusing resources on schools that were to remain as part of the recently paused education reform, she believed all of the island’s remaining schools required immediate attention.

Ms Caesar floated the idea of an Adopt-a-School programme, inviting members of the business sector to partner with the ministry to provide funding and support.

She said she was keen to move past conversations around buildings and on to improving student results.

While she hoped to have received a bigger sum in the Budget released on Friday, she said she had advocated for extra funds for paraprofessionals and support staff to assist in students’ learning.

“We dreamt big for years, and we said let’s do everything — but is that realistic? That is where I am. I have to be realistic about the money that we have or don’t have, and what is required or not required.

“There will be some features and renovations that need to be done, there will need to be some new builds but we need to do this in a realistic fashion. I am trying to maintain a level of stability, not constantly changing and moving. It’s not good for the students …

“We can dream big but we have to have some realities that we have to think about as it pertains to the footprint of what Bermuda has to offer and how do we operate. Again, because those schools are at a point where they are so old and they need some significant investment …

“We are talking tens of millions, $10 million, maybe $20 million.”

The Budget contained a $14-million package for the Ministry of Education to upgrade facilities and invest in new technology at the public schools and the Bermuda College.

Speaking at a separate Budget event, David Burt told the Gazette he agreed that sufficient investment was required.

The Premier said: “That’s the reason why this Budget has increased the capital funding for the ministry by 71 per cent in support of the minister’s objectives to not only focus on signature schools and parish primary schools but also the other schools to make sure they have upgraded equipment, upgraded technology and upgraded facilities.”

Ms Caesar recently put on hold education reform plans, introduced by Diallo Rabain, the former education minister, that included abolishing middle schools, closing some primary schools and creating parish primary schools. It also involved the creation of signature schools for trades and professions, and schools catering to learning differences.

Parish primary schools were recently told by Ms Caesar that funding promised to them was no longer available and that the reforms were now on hold.

Ms Caesar said minimum school standards needed to be met in all schools, involving everything from mould removal, renovation, new buildings, modern teaching and learning environments, common spaces and technological upgrades.

During her official presentation, she told business leaders in the room: “I have an idea to assist in ensuring that Bermuda’s education system is one that works for our future economy and that is an Adopt-a-School programme. Education has the third-highest line item but we cannot do it by ourselves.

“We need industry partner support, we need industry partner collaboration and we need industry partner funding. We need industry to continue to invest and partner with us. Are you able to assist in filling that gap?”

Ms Caesar said she was tired of having the conversation around infrastructure, adding: “I want outcomes”.

“That is why I have tried to focus on getting more learning support, more paraprofessionals, more services and programmes that our young people can access so they can get into those careers and fields of study that they would like to, and we need to do it sooner.

“We need to ensure that we don’t just get more staff, we need to get the right people and there needs to be a level of accountability in place.”

Ms Caesar also spoke about the need to improve provisions for special education.

She said some schools already have autism and functional skills classes, as well as services where professionals come into the classroom or provide one-on-one intervention.

However, she added: “It is my goal to ensure that we do that in an even more robust fashion.

“We do have a better understanding of what diverse instruction should look like but there are some students who we are not reaching, and that is unfortunate.

“I want to be able to ensure that I put the supports in place to reach those students who are not the traditional learners.”

Ms Caesar said there had been an uptick of students enrolling in the vocational and technical courses which she said was, “in no short measure”, down to the creation of signature schools.

Despite taking on such a major portfolio during a time of system-wide reform, and as a relative newcomer to frontline politics, Ms Caesar said: “It is meaningful work and I think that education touches all of us. I am grateful for the opportunity.

“There are days when you feel like, oh my gosh, what is happening, but in all honesty, I find it meaningful.

“I think education is very rewarding and when I meet with the students, it gives me inspiration to continue.”