PATI STATEMENT MINISTRY OF EDUCATION BERMUDA EDUCATORS COUNCIL

Name of Public Authority:   Bermuda Educators’ Council

Introduction:

The purpose of the Public Access to Information Act is to—

• give the public the right to obtain access to information held by public authorities to the greatest extent possible, subject to exceptions that are in the public interest or for the protection of the rights of others;
• increase transparency, and eliminate unnecessary secrecy, with regard to information held by public authorities;
• increase the accountability of public authorities;
• inform the public about the activities of public authorities, including the manner in which they make decisions; and have more information placed in the public domain as a matter of routine. 

The purpose of the information statement is to provide information to give the public sufficient information about the public authority to help them to make requests and share to what information is already publicly available.

Section A: Structure, Organization and Legislation  [s5(1)a]

Chairman - Mrs. Tamicia Darrell
Deputy Chairman - Mr. Gladstone Thompson
Mr. Anthony Wade
Mrs. Crystal Richardson-Trott
Ms. Ria Grenardo
Ms. Yvonne Bean
Ms. Cindy Corday
Ms. Jenaia Curtis
Ms. Joan Gouldbourne
Ms. Kim Lightbourne
Ms. Michelle Laylaw
Ms. Theresa Miller

Governing Legislation: 

Education Amendment Act 2021

Education Act, 1996

Education (Applications for Registration of Schools) Rules 1987

Education Rules 2006

Education Rules (Tutorial Sites) 2003

Education (School Support) Rules 2004

Bermuda Educators Council Act 2022     

Public Service Commission Regulations, 2001

Policies and Procedures Manual for Principals, (2008)

Policy and Procedures Manual for Teaching Staff

Collective bargaining agreements of the Bermuda Union of Teachers, Bermuda Public Services Union and the Bermuda Industrial Union         

Section B: 1) Functions, powers, duties of the Authority  [s5(1)b]

The principle aims of the Council in exercising their functions are: 

1. To improve standards of teaching so as to enhance the quality of learning: and, 

2. To maintain and improve standards of professional conduct of educators in the public interest. 

Section B: 2) Obligations under PATI Act  [s5(1)b]

To provide an information statement for the public and promulgate it [s5], 

• To provide other information to the public so that the public needs only to have minimum resort to the use of the Act to obtain information [s6]. This includes:

  • General information, e.g. activities of the Authority 

  • Log of all information requests and their outcome

  • Quarterly expenditure (upon request) [s6(5)]

  • Contracts valued at $50,000 or more.

• To respond to information requests in a timely manner [s12-16]

• To track information requests, and provide this data to the Information Commissioner

• To respond to requests from the Information Commissioner [s9]

• To amend personal information held by the Authority that it is wrong or misleading following a written request by the person to whom the information relates [s19]

• To conduct an internal review if formally requested [part 5]

• To give evidence for review by the Information Commissioner [part 6, 47(4)], or for judicial review [s49], if required

• To provide an annual written report to the Information Commissioner of the status of information requests [s58 (3)].  

• To do anything else as required under the PATI Act and subsequent Regulations [s59, 60], including:

  • Fees for Requests for information

  • Management and maintenance of records

  • Procedures  for administering the Act 

• To train staff and make arrangements so as to facilitate compliance with the Act [s61]

• To designate one of its officers to be the person to whom requests are directed [s62]

Section C: Services and Programmes [s5(1)c]

Services: 

The Council shall establish and maintain a register of educators. The Council shall develop, establish and maintain qualifications for the continued registration of educators, and shall issue certificates of qualification therefor. The Council shall issue a Code of Practice laying down standards of professional conduct and practice expected of registered educators and shall make copies of the Code of Practice available free of charge to all registered educators.

Section D: Records and documents held [s5(1)d] 

Strategic policy and planning documents                     Minutes of Meetings

Memoranda                                                                             General correspondence

Section E: Administration (all public access) manuals   [s5(1)e]

Bermuda Educators Council Act 2002

Public Service Commission Regulations, 2001

Policies and Procedures Manual for Principals, (2008)

Policy and Procedures Manual for Teaching Staff

Policy and Procedures Manual for Scholarship Committee

Collective bargaining agreements of the Bermuda Union of Teachers, Bermuda Public Services Union and the Bermuda Industrial Union

Section F: Decision-making documents  [s5(1)f]

Bermuda Educators Council Act 2002

Section G: The Information officer [s5(1)g]

Lisa Smith 

Email:  MOEPati@moed.bm

Tel: 278-3308

Section H: Any Other Information  [s5(1)h]

M/A

Section I: Any Other Information To be Provided?   [s5(1)i]

N/A.

Section J: Information Statement: Copies and Updates   [s5(2,3,4,5)]

Every public authority shall update its information statement at least once a year, and make it available for inspection by the public at reasonable times by [s5(1-5), PATI Act]:

 Date Information Statement was updated: 30 January 2023

 Locations of Information Statement:             

• Your principal office: Ministry of Education                                                                          Y

• The Bermuda National Library;                                                                                                   Y

• The Bermuda Archives;                                                                                                                   Y

• Available electronically,                                                                                                                  Y

• Website for public authority (www.moed.bm).                                                                   Y

• Have you published a notice in the Gazette indicating the places where the information statement is available for the public?                                                                                                                  N

• With the Information Commissioner.                                                                                       Y

Signed:  

                 Jasmin Smith

                 Permanent Secretary 

Date:     25 June 2024