Teachers, parents and students hearing the Throne Speech may well have experienced a deep sense of déjà vu — for there was nothing about education which hadn't already been announced.

Government promised to "fix" the education system, give the new Board of Education statutory "teeth" to implement much-needed reform and increase the number and value of college scholarships.

The pledges were essentially a summary of what was in the Throne Speech last November. That plan could not be implemented by Government because parliament was then suspended prior to the General Election.

Education Minister Randy Horton on Friday declined to expand on the promises in the latest speech but said a press conference on education would take place on Wednesday.

Shadow Education Minister Grant Gibbons said he would defer his comments until the Opposition makes its official response next Friday.

The six or seven paragraphs on education contained in yesterday's Throne Speech reiterated plans for a "school-based management programme", more rigorous academic standards for students and a review of the curriculum.

The promises tie in with recommendations in the damning Hopkins report, which was published last May and concluded that the public education system was "on the brink of meltdown".

MPs were told on Friday that they would be asked to consider amendments to the Education Act 1996 to allow the recommendations to be implemented.

"The Act will provide a revised focus for the Board of Education and provide that body with the 'teeth' required to positively administer the education system in Bermuda," said the speech.

The speech did not refer to a number of pledges from the November speech and from the PLP's election platform, including: ongoing training for principals with a focus on instructional leadership; technical and vocational education in schools to allow students to obtain the Bermuda School certificate and trade certification; an ongoing perception study to obtain parental views; an increased number of technical bursaries; free Bermuda College education for Bermudians; certification and apprentice regulations and an international maritime training platform.