Politicians, parents and teachers protest closure of schools in Bermuda

HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC - The main opposition One Bermuda Alliance (OBA) says if it wins the February 18 general elections, it will commit to "pausing and thoroughly evaluating the school closure plans" as parents, students and politicians on Monday called for the government to halt plans to close the Gilbert Institute.

"We believe that decisions of such magnitude must be grounded in robust evidence and made in genuine consultation with the communities they impact. Our children's education is paramount. It is imperative that we approach these reforms with the diligence, care, and foresight they deserve, ensuring a brighter future for all Bermudians," the OBA deputy leader, Ben Smith, said in a statement.

He said the recent decisions surrounding school closures have sown confusion and distress within their communities and that the "government's inconsistent stances, initially announcing closures, then reversing decisions under public pressure, have led to uncertainty and a loss of trust among parents, students, and educators.

"Now Gilbert Institute is going through this same cycle we have seen throughout this process," he added.

On Monday, parents, students and politicians, staged a protest urging the David Burt administration to reverse its plans to close the Gilbert Institute.

Carrying placards that read, "Please keep Gilbert open," the parents received support from motorists who honked their horns.

At least 60 parents penned a letter to the Ministry of Education expressing deep concern about the plans saying their voices and concerns have not been adequately addressed.

"First and foremost, we want to state unequivocally that we reject the closure of Gilbert Institute, as well as the transition plan and the lack of clear and transparent information regarding how and why Gilbert Institute was selected for closure.

"This decision has left us feeling unheard and dismissed as stakeholders in our children's education and as tax paying citizens," they wrote.

The government's closure of schools is part of an education reform initiative, but the parents said "no information has been provided about what steps, if any, have been taken to improve these conditions.

"If no other suitable placements are made available, we will be forced to send our children to a school where we have serious reservations about their safety and well-being, " they added.

One of the protesting parents said they "have all had to pick where we want to transfer our kids in September and pickings are slim.

"We don't feel that the government have really fixed the issued at other schools and are prepared to accept all of our kids," the parent said.

Smith said the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) has highlighted the "unbearable strain on educators due to staffing shortages, safety concerns, and the pressures of implementing reforms without adequate support.

"These challenges not only disrupt the learning environment but also compromise the quality of education our children should receive.

"In light of these pressing concerns, the One Bermuda Alliance advocates for an immediate pause on the current education reform initiatives. We propose the establishment of an Independent Education Authority tasked with conducting a comprehensive review of the proposed reforms."

He said this body would ensure that any changes to our public education system are thoughtfully considered, transparent, and in the best interests of all stakeholders

"Furthermore, under an OBA government, we commit to pausing and thoroughly evaluating the school closure plans. We believe that decisions of such magnitude must be grounded in robust evidence and made in genuine consultation with the communities they impact.

"Our children's education is paramount. It is imperative that we approach these reforms with the diligence, care, and foresight they deserve, ensuring a brighter future for all Bermudians," Smith added.

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