Mew Minister Paula Cox was given a resounding welcome to Bermuda's public education system last night - while the departing Senator Milton Scott received a mixed reaction.

People involved in the education of young people in Bermuda said they believed Ms Cox had all the ingredients of a forward-thinking minister who would be willing to listen and do what was best for the Island.

She takes over the Ministry of Education and Development tomorrow after three successful years in Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety.

And people inside and outside of the Ministry said they believed her lack of experience in education was an asset.

They said someone fresh to the subject will be eager to listen to other people and to learn and draw from the best ideals, instead of believing they have all the answers.

General Secretary of the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) Michael Charles said he had been expecting the departure of Sen. Scott and said he was "ambivalent" about it.

He said: "Milton Scott was in an unfortunate position. He was previously in my seat in the union and teachers felt he had a handle on what was needed in education and what they needed.

"But I think as far as principals are concerned, he did not do a good job. If you talk to teachers, I don't think he would come out on the plus side.

"I think they feel let down by him. But the education system was in a bit of a mess when he took over, which did not help him. However, he tried to change 30 years in 30 days and it was simply too much too quickly. I think that was his downfall."

But he said people should not forget that the Government and Ministry under Sen. Scott had done some good things for education.

Among them, he said was the reduction in class sizes, and the literacy and numeracy programmes, which were already beginning to lead to signs of improvement.

But Mr. Charles said he was hopeful that Ms Cox would be good for education.

He added: "I think she will work very hard and will give 110 percent because that's the kind of person she is.

"Like in her previous position, I think she will do what she thinks is right for the children of Bermuda." But chairman of the Association of School Principals Livingston Tuzo said he believed Sen. Scott had achieved the brief he had been given - to assess what needed to be done and then infuse new initiatives - almost like a troubleshooter.

He said: "Ms Cox is an interesting choice. Having spoken to just a few principals today, the news has received a positive response.

"I think they are all impressed with the way she handled her last portfolio. People are looking forward to working with her and building on the initiatives put forward by Sen. Scott. To his credit, and keeping children as the focus, I think he has laid a fairly solid foundation for Ms Cox to work on." Chairman of Bermuda College Jan Spiering said he was sad to see Sen. Scott go, but welcomed the arrival of Ms Cox.

He added: "We worked very successfully with the past Minister and we look forward to continuing to make progress with regards the initiatives we have set for the college with the new Minister.

"We look forward to meeting with her as soon as possible.

"I have been very impressed with Ms Cox's handling of difficult subjects, including the long term residents and work permit issues, while she was Minister of Labour and Home Affairs.

"In that regard, she was able to steer a good middle course and I'm sure that some of the trickier issues in education will be met with the same impressive ability to steer that middle course."

And Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith said he was pleased to see an education minister who was also a Member of Parliament and therefore able to speak in the House of Assembly, where Sen. Scott was not.

He said: "There were significant gaps in previous debates without the minister in charge hearing concerns, reflecting on them, and achieving consensus.

"Further, education is about the future. The better educated a society, the better its decision-making ability. Education is too important not to have bipartisan and community involvement.

"I think the new minister recognises this and will be a strong proponent in utilising the entire House of Assembly on matters particular to education."