As required by the Bermuda Educators Council (BEC) Act 2002, the Ministry of Education recently gazetted a list of individuals who may take up employment as educators at a Bermuda public or private school (for the year 2019/20) without a teacher certification. Typically, all Bermuda Public and Private School teachers are required to hold a BEC teachers certification license. However, under special circumstances exemptions are approved when the Minister of Education, acting on the advice of the BEC Exemption Committee, determines that there is a need in Bermuda public and private schools for persons who possess knowledge of, and skills in, particular positions that are difficult to fill.
Requests for exemptions are sent to the BEC Exemption Committee from Principals in order to fill a need for their respective school. The BEC Exemption Committee vets the request and then sends a request for exemption to the Minister of Education. Requests that are sent forward by the Exemption Committee are usually accompanied by specific stipulations for each individual.
It is important to note that persons who are granted exemptions under the Bermuda Exemption Order are normally restricted to conditions of exemption – which typically states that the evidence of current enrollment in, or pending completion of, a teacher certification programme to be submitted to the Exemption Council Committee by a specified date.
The Minister of Education, the Hon. Diallo Rabain JP MP commented, “All Bermuda Public and Private Schools are taught by highly skilled and trained educators. Before any teacher is employed, they must undergo a rigorous vetting process to determine that they meet all requirements of employment as a teacher in Bermuda by the Bermuda Educators Council. Exemptions are granted every year and the Exemption Committee ensures that the individuals, whose names are submitted for an exemption, are of the highest caliber.”
Please find attached Gazetted exemptions for 2019/2020 and the Bermuda Educators Council Act 2002.
Bermuda Educators Council (Exemption) (2019 to 2020 School Year) Order 2019.pdf