Education Minister Milton Scott yesterday promised he would be back after resigning from his Ministry to accept a new "substantive" post in the private sector.

Although he said he had not achieved everything he would have liked to in his three-year tenure, Sen. Scott said he believed he had succeeded in many of the tasks he set out for himself and had changed the direction of education in Bermuda.

He officially stands down from the post at the end of today, but will remain in the Senate, and will act as Minister without Portfolio from tomorrow until November 13.

Top of his achievement list is the reduction of primary school class sizes, and the introduction of the literacy and numeracy initiatives. But he has also ensured targeted support for failing primary schools, and has just announced this month a new curriculum for primary schools, which is being piloted now with the hope of getting it introduced Island-wide next September.

Sen. Scott said that he made the decision to quit some time ago. And he said although he had come in for a lot of criticism during the last three years, he felt he had accomplished a great deal. "When we compare ourselves to any country in the world, we have the greatest possibility to effect change in our school system - because Bermuda is so small.

"There have been some challenges and the most challenging part is when information is misrepresented and that can occur sometimes by union leaders, sometimes the Press, or the shadow ministry.

"But the high is that I can look back and say that I have been here and been a part of it. "

At the senior level, he started the wheels in motion to look at certification and accreditation, with the aim of ensuring colleges and businesses both overseas and in Bermuda recognise what Bermuda's graduates have achieved. Other initiatives included the attendance unit, the remodelled CADET programme for students with behavioural problems, TerraNova testing in every year group from Primary two to Senior two, additional classroom computers, and the publishing of test results.

However, despite the attempts to improve the system, Sen. Scott and the Ministry have also come in for stern criticism from all sectors of the community, not least teachers and principals, and the Bermuda Union of Teachers. The main criticisms were that the Ministry was failing to consult stakeholders before introducing changes, which resulted in a demonstration through the City in June this year.

, and also the fact that too many changes were being introduced too quickly, leaving teachers stressed.