A suggestion by the Minister of Education that Bermuda’s schools require a multimillion price tag to bring them up to par points to a “decade of neglect”, the Opposition leader said.

Ben Smith also said the Government has ”failed spectacularly” at executing its duty to provide education and maintain school buildings.

He made the claim after Crystal Caesar told The Royal Gazette yesterday that renovations to make schools fit for purpose could cost $10 million to $20 million for each institution.

At an address to the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce 2026 Budget Breakfast and Economic Forum, she floated the idea of an Adopt-a-School programme, inviting the business sector to partner with the ministry to provide funding and support.

Mr Smith responded: “Three days after the Government celebrated record revenues and projected that Bermuda will cross the $2 billion revenue mark, it now admits that our schools are in such disrepair that it needs the private sector to rescue its schools.

“This is beyond incompetence and shows their hypocrisy. Providing quality education is the most fundamental responsibility of any government.

“Yet after nearly nine consecutive years in power, this government is confessing publicly that it cannot maintain the very buildings our children walk into every morning.”

Mr Smith said the Government spent years “promising transformation, signature schools, innovation, restructuring and world-class reform”.

After the closing of schools, plus the hiring of consultants and millions spent, he questioned how students, parents and teachers had benefited.

“They’ve received nothing but constant unanswered questions,” Mr Smith said.

He questioned why the $10 to $20 million sum was “so high” if “Government wants businesses to adopt a school”.

Mr Smith said: “International business is already paying more through CIT [corporate income tax].

“Now the Government wants it to bankroll public school infrastructure too. This is the consequence of multiple years of mismanagement.

“It deferred maintenance, paid consultants without transparent outcomes and closed schools with no coherent plan.”

Mr Smith called for data to support education reform, adding: “You cannot brag about revenue while asking the private sector to bail out basic government responsibilities.”