A former education secretary in US president George Bush's administration was unveiled yesterday as the man Government hopes will transform Bermuda's failing public schools.

Henry L. Johnson was named as the Island's new consultant executive officer for education at a news conference at Cabinet.

Dr. Johnson will serve in the post for two years. He was previously assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education in the States, where he was charged with improving student attainment across the country after President Bush nominated him in June 2005.

The former principal and math and science teacher has also served as state superintendent of education in Mississippi and associate state superintendent of the North Carolina department of public instruction.

Dr. Johnson's latest role will see him implement recommendations from a damning independent study conducted earlier this year by experts who concluded that Bermuda's public education system was "on the brink of meltdown".

The Hopkins report called for a massive overhaul of the Ministry of Education and the introduction of a proper curriculum followed by all schools and upon which children were consistently assessed.

Dr. Johnson, from Alabama, told reporters yesterday that there was "no mystery" about why schools here were failing. "The research is really, really clear," he said. "When teachers know, understand and teach the curriculum and assessments are based on that curriculum that teachers are supposed to teach, student learning goes up."

He told the press conference his role was to "aggressively" implement the policies of the interim executive board set up in the wake of the Hopkins report and chaired by Bank of Bermuda chief executive officer Philip Butterfield.

"No society is better than its schools," Dr. Johnson said. "The schools help determine what future the society will have."

He added: "One of the main things I'm going to do is to do a lot of listening."

Asked by one journalist why the Island should welcome his appointment considering the desultory state of public education in the US, he shot back: "You are welcome to check my history."

Eight applicants applied for the consultant executive officer post, including six from overseas. The job advert stipulated that the successful applicant would need a proven performance in reforming educational systems, experience working in union environments and more than ten years above the rank of principal.

Bermuda Public Services Union has criticised the fact that the appointment was made by the interim executive board. Mr. Butterfield said yesterday that Dr. Johnson's "experience and accomplishments" made him the best person for the job.

Education Minister Randy Horton said he had been impressed with Dr. Johnson's personable nature and wealth of experience. "Dr. Johnson has reached the highest levels of education administration in the United States and has had particular success in leading reform in other jurisdictions."

He added: "We cannot ignore that public education is one of the core elements of our society. If we fail in our mission to improve student achievement, the very viability of our public education system is in jeopardy. We continue today to move to satisfy the mandate given to the Ministry by the Government specifically and the overall goals and aspirations of the parents and students in general."

Dr. Johnson was a public school teacher in America for seven years, a principal for three and spent two years as the director of middle schools programmes in North Carolina.

His career in education has spanned more than 30 years and he has a Master's degree in science education and a doctorate in school administration.