The two parties' top ten pledges on education:

Progressive Labour Party

— Ensure technical education is taught at middle and senior schools.

— Give a free Bermuda College education to Bermudians on accredited programmes.

— Strengthen the partnership between Bermuda College and the National Training Board.

— Introduce annual teacher, parent and student opinion surveys.

— Increase the value of Government scholarships.

— Carry out an annual review of public schools and publish the results.

— Open a one-stop careers centre.

— Give teachers more opportunities for professional development.

— Promote Bermuda's history in schools.

— Systematically monitor the progress of each pupil.

United Bermuda Party

— Create an independent authority to assess schools and publish the results.

— Expand Government pre-school availability and improve its quality.

— Establish local school boards for every school.

— Allocate more funds to teacher's salaries and for training and mentoring.

— Decentralise the Ministry of Education and have more education officers working in schools.

— Establish a national fitness programme beginning at the primary school level.

— $15K interest-free loans for students who've done two years at Bermuda College or are entering their third year.

— Free tuition at Bermuda College for students maintaining at least a B average and 95 percent attendance at school.

— Teach technical education from middle school through to Bermuda College level.

— Create a national technical education institute at Bermuda College.