In July, the Government announced that it would revisit the parish primary school decision process. A key component is integrating an additional study factor, 'History and Legacy'.
The Hon. Diallo Rabain, JP, MP, Minister of Education, elaborated on this decision. "The Ministry has always recognised the significance of preserving the rich history and legacy of Bermuda's schools and, to that end, empanelled the History and Legacy Working Group in 2022," said Minister Rabain. "To ensure a comprehensive approach to integrating this additional study factor, we have involved the History and Legacy Working Group and have actively sought stakeholder involvement."
On 6 October 2023, each primary school was invited to nominate three representatives to offer valuable insights into the history and legacy of their institutions. These three representatives will present oral submissions to the History and Legacy Working Group. Schools have been asked to submit their nominations by Friday, 13 October 2023.
Minister Rabain detailed the following steps in the Ministry's strategic approach:
• Re-evaluation: The scoring process for parishes with more than one Primary School will be reassessed with the additional History and Legacy study factor integrated into the process, addressing concerns the West End Warriors raised.
• Continued Dialogue: The Ministry will continue communicating openly with all stakeholders, considering all perspectives.
"We are committed to ensuring that our decisions reflect the needs and aspirations of our community. Schools and their representatives will soon be informed of a timeline for meetings with the Working Group," the Minister added.
In conclusion, Minister Rabain emphasised the Ministry's commitment: "Education is the cornerstone of Bermuda's prosperity. We are dedicated to making informed decisions that support our children's growth and pave the way for a brighter future for Bermuda."
Editor's Note: The only primary schools not required to send representatives were Heron Bay, now closed, Francis Patton and Purvis, both of which opened as Parish Primary Schools in September 2023, Elliot Primary, which will become the Parish Primary School for Devonshire and Prospect Primary which will become the Signature School for Students with Exceptionalities.