Senators came together yesterday to pass legislation which could revolutionise education.

The Education Amendment Act 2008 comes after last year's damning Hopkins Report recommended a huge overhaul of the Island's failing schools system.

Under the new law underperforming principals and teachers will face the sack, a new Commissioner of Education will supervise and evaluate education performance and the school leaving age will be raised from 16 to 18.

Introducing the bill, Junior Education Minister Walton Brown said it will improve reading, comprehension, maths and critical thinking among students.

He said the decline in education had impacted businesses while those who lacked basic skills to succeed in society sometimes reacted with aggressive behaviour to camouflage their inadequacies.

The huge take up of private education indicated a lack of faith in public schools, but Sen. Brown said the bill would stop the rot.

He said: "When we get this right we will have better, more productive citizens." Labour Minister David Burch said the success of the bill would depend on courage in carrying it out, despite opposition.

He welcomed the school-based accountability and added: "I have to admit I was hoping for the complete dismantling of the Education Department quite frankly. It didn't come in these amendments.

"But what I will hope is that some of those people who occupy positions of responsibility within the Department of Education will actually be deployed closer to their responsibilities and if you are responsible for western schools, maybe (you should) be located there.

"Or at least visit occasionally so you have some idea of what is happening in the trenches when you make decisions which will affect young people's lives."

The controversial plan to create "clusters" for schools - a move which could see the Island's four aided schools lose their own autonomous boards has been left out of the Bill but independent Senator Walwyn Hughes said it could be needed later.

He praised Government for acting swiftly on the damning Hopkins report which was commissioned last February and produced in May.

"A year later Government is coming forward with legislation." He said the report had been attacked for being done in a hurry.

"Sometimes these are the best reports. People come in, have a quick look – the problem is so severe you don't need to be here a year."

He said Bermudians needed to be tested to international standards and the bill would be a help.

United Bermuda Party Senator Jeanne Atherden said she wanted to see public indicators and milestones as the bill was implemented so the public could know if it was working.

But Sen. Brown said the promised published test results were the only salient milestones that were needed as the whole point was to increase student performance.

UBP Senate leader Michael Dunkley said the results of Bermuda's declining education system were more and more evident in the people who applied for jobs.

He recounted getting an application form in which the applicant spelled his own name different ways and could not spell the word 'bike'.

"So many Bermudians are missing out on opportunities," said Mr. Dunkley.

Senators also welcomed the fact that the bill gives new powers to the Board of Education, which will have 13 members, including a representative each from the Bermuda Union of Teachers, Bermuda Public Services Union and the Association of School Principals.

Representatives of six schools, including one of the two public senior schools, will also be on the board, along with two people from the business community and two parents.

The Hopkins report described the former Board of Education as "ineffective" and said any new body set up needed to have more power.

The new board will make recommendations to the Education Minister on the appointment of the Commissioner and the new directors of academics, business, and standards and accountability at the Ministry.

It will also have more say on the appointment of principals, budgetary matters, curriculum and educational policy and will have to produce a monthly report on its activities.