The chairman of Bermuda’s “ineffective” board of education admitted yesterday that it lacked strength and welcomed proposals for it to be overhauled.

Raymond Tannock told The Royal Gazette he had shared his concerns with Professor David Hopkins - the UK professor brought in to lead an investigation into the Island’s failing public schools.

Professor Hopkins’ team concluded this week that the Board of Education needed replacing or making more powerful. Former Senator Mr. Tannock described the document as “a call for action” and said: “If we all come forward with a positive attitude and take some action then we can resolve the problem. I’m very positive. I think if we keep the children in mind we can resolve this.”

He said Bermuda was required by law to have a Board of Education but that its precise role and responsibilities were not clearly defined.

“This is my first experience on the board. I have had a conversation with the Minister concerning the direction of the board as we move forward. He indicated to me that there was going to be a review and he did not want to implement anything before the findings of the review were known.”

Mr. Tannock added: “I think that the board has to have some firm direction. Is the board leading or following.

“In my discussions with Dr. Hopkins we did talk about the strength of the board and we did discuss that and our concern was that the board was not as strong as it could be.

“We do concur that we have to look at the purpose of the board. By law there has to be a board but we have not determined the direction of the board, the approach and what areas we were going to tackle first.”