Education Minister Randy Horton has announced measures to overhaul his Ministry and implement the reforms of the Hopkins Report.

Action to ‘radically reform the Ministry of Education’ was one of ten recommendations in a damning review of Bermuda’s public school system by experts led by British professor David Hopkins.

The report criticised the Ministry of Education as “poorly-led and mismanaged” and “secretive”.

Experts recommended sacking senior Ministry staff and bringing in a temporary external executive board to oversee a “major restructuring”.

On Friday, Mr. Horton told the House that an interim Executive Board has now been appointed. It will address the “strategic management weaknesses” of his own Ministry and oversee other reforms as recommended by the Hopkins Report.

Made up of leading figures in business and education on the Island, the board will meet once a week, as from tomorrow.

Mr. Horton said it would be given “full rein” to draw up the measures needed to meet the report’s recommendations.

He said: “We are moving as quickly as possible to deliver on our promise to begin implementing reforms starting in the next school year.”

The Government’s aim was “to begin the next school year with a school system well on the road to improved student achievement”.

Mr. Horton said: “Quite simply, public education is one of the core elements of society that we cannot do without.

“If we fail in our mission to improve student achievement, the very viability of our public education system is in jeopardy. More importantly, our future as a country will be imperilled.

“The mission is urgent, critical and of national importance.”

He also promised more parental involvement in the Island’s education system, as recommended by the Hopkins Report.

“It is time that we redefine the public education system to include parents and guardians who after all are our first educators,” said Mr. Horton.

The interim Executive Board will set up working groups in the following areas: enhancing principal leadership; reform of the ministry; enhancing teaching and learning; accountability, performance management and use of data; scoping medium term development; and parental involvement.

Bank of Bermuda CEO Philip Butterfield has been appointed chairman. The other members are: Duranda Greene, president of Bermuda College; and Marc Telemaque, Cabinet Secretary and a parent; Wendy Augustus, former president of the National Parents Teacher Association and CEO of the Bermuda Hospitals Charitable Trust; Tom Davis, chairman of the Whitney Institute Board of Governors; Lisa Smith-Clarke, principal of Harrington Sound Primary School; and Michael Stowe, executive officer of the National Training Board.