The Shadow Minister of Education has slammed the PLP for attacking the UBP and putting a positive spin on their consistent record of failure ? instead of coming to grips with the real issues facing Bermuda.

Neville Darrell was commenting on statements made by Minister Dale Butler last week concerning the name changes to three Government Public Schools.

He said Mr. Butler?s ?snide comments? about him living abroad for a number of years had no more relevance in the debate over providing quality education to Bermuda?s children, than any of the personal choices he had made that could be ?wickedly exploited for cheap political gain?.

?Our children deserve so much more than the PLP?s current public relations approach to education where reports, speeches, extravagant newspaper ads and the Press conferences are more important than addressing the underlying fundamental challenges,? Mr. Darrell said.

?When hard questions are asked about the public education system such as ?how do our children at various grades and ages compare with other children in the world? or ?what is the overall academic performance of our individual schools? or ?what is the current status of the teacher certification and licensing programme? are asked and the Minister of Education does not give a response, that should concern all of us.?

Mr. Darrell had asked these questions during the Budget debate in March when more than $100-million was allocated to public education.

?When it was time for him to give a response at the end of the debate, he informed the House of Assembly that he was not going to answer any of the questions put to him,? he said.

Mr. Darrell said education has always been a rite of passage to a better life.

?It is not unrealistic to expect specifics rather than self-serving speeches, expensive newspaper ads and Press conferences,? he said. ?Our children deserve results and accountability, not more talk and inaction from the PLP.?

He said Mr. Butler was correct when he recognised that Martin Luther King, Jr., Bob Marley and John F. Kennedy are counted among his heroes.

?What he may not know is that my primary heroes, who ignited the fire in my belly and who challenged me to fill the unforgiving minute, were cherished and outstanding Bermudian educators. I honour and highly respect them whether they are deceased or still living powerfully among us,? he said.

Mr. Darrell said these ?leaders? had written their messages on all Bermudians in the deep ink of passion, excellence and honour and everything must be done to honour and recognise them.

?I believe that our collective heroes of the past who have shaped, motivated and inspired us will be well pleased to be acknowledged and memorialised on any and indeed on all of our public buildings,? he said.

He added that their commitment was to make Bermuda better for all and everything should be done to make sure all public schools paid a fitting tribute to those lives which had been well-lived and committed to excellence.