An executive position to shake up the Island’s education system has attracted eight applicants — six from overseas.

The Consultant Executive Officer will implement reforms over a two year period.

The position has an undisclosed salary and requires a Masters degree and a qualification in an “educational discipline”.

Applicants must also have more than ten years’ experience above the rank of Principal.

An advert for the post called for “proven performance in reforming educational systems and experience working in union environments”.

The person appointed is tasked with implementing reforms as recommended by the Interim Executive Board — the body set up to engineer the recommendations of the Hopkins Report.

He or she will work “under the direction of the Minister with the advice of the Interim Executive Board”.

Responsibilities include: developing objectives; recommending policies to the Board; implementing policies approved by the Ministry; and reviewing all budgets.

Unions however, are angry that the applications were sent to Bank of Bermuda chief Philip Butterfield, Interim Executive Board chairman. The Board is to conduct the interviews, and teaching staff say it is another example of why they feel left out of the reform process.

At a union meeting on Tuesday, Bermuda Public Services Union general secretary Ed Ball questioned why a person from the private sector had been given authority to appoint the Consultant Executive Officer. Bermuda Trade Union Congress president Anthony Wolff also described powers given to Mr. Butterfield to appoint them as a “circumventing of the established protocol”.

Last week Education Minister Randy Horton said that from the six overseas candidates, three have been shortlisted.

“We have begun interviews and have interviewed two people already,” he said.