The Ministry of Education agreed to a near $1million increase to their budget this year which includes costs of travel, accommodation insurance and printing/design
Overseas consultants are costing the taxpayer 2.5-million this year with the ongoing public education reform.
However, Innovation Unit have pointed to ‘capability gaps’ in the Education Reform Unit, and that the local reform body needs “more not less support”.
I.U. also states that each of the Signature Transformation Teams has had instability or changes in leadership.
During a post-budget briefing yesterday, Education Minister Senator Crystal Caesar was pressed by media on their progress in implementing a new curriculum as part of wider education reform on the island – a process which began in 2020.
Innovation Unit Australia and New Zealand, the company hired by the government to lead public education reform, saw their budget increased substantially for this year to $2.5million – up from $1.6 million last year.
Since starting their consultancy in March 2020, Innovation Unit will have been paid more than $8.3 million by the end of this year.
Bermuda Broadcasting asked why such a significant increase to the Innovation Unit’s contract to justify the revised fee.
Minister of Education, Senator Crystal Caesar told media during a post-budget briefing, “It was what was specifically called for when the contract negotiations happened at that time.
“We needed their services and that was what was negotiated so, that we could get value for money.”
In I.U.’s agreed statement of work for the period January to December this year, they noted,“the IU has consistently been asked to undertake more delivery work than proposed.
“This proposal considers an approach that focuses more heavily on preparing the system to be able to govern, lead and deliver continuing transformation at the proposed date for the Educational Authority to be fully operational.”
The development and implementation of an Education Authority was priced at $69,500.
However, that figure pales in comparison to the single highest line item – $523,000 for travel, accommodation insurance, design and printing costs, none of which have previously been paid for by the Government.
The IU also will receive ‘a small increase’ to day rates for each team member.
These rates, they claim, are still that of a registered charity and significantly lower than that of a commercial consulting agency.
Listing contextual factors, the I.U. explained, “An Education Reform Unit that, whilst growing, has not been at full capacity or stability since its inception, has continued to have capability gaps and has new members that have had little or nothing to do with reform to date and are at the stage of needing more not less support.”
Furthermore, they noted, “no school is yet to complete a full cycle of transformation and each of the Signature Transformation Teams has had instability or changes in leadership.”
The other highest costs of the agreement are attached to Parish Primary School Transformation at just over $450,000, Signature school transformation at $343,000 and Project Management at $290,000.
The IU agreement also lists detailed objectives to reach within the next two years with continued sustainability.
The PLP platform initiative said it aims to transition away from overseas consultants and for Bermudian educators to fill those roles in future – an objective the Ministry states it intends to work towards.
Meantime, the Education Reform Unit has facilitated a new course with Middle and senior school teachers on develop the new Senior Seminar course for Year 9 students to help prepare them for senior education teaching a blend of hard and soft skills.
Education Reform Team Leader Lisa DeSilva recently said, “This initiative, still a work in progress, reflects a shared commitment with teachers and school leaders to provide students with a strong foundation of transferable skills that support both academic success and personal growth.”
The Education Reform is considered a major overhaul of the public schools system including the consolidation of primary schools, one per parish and three senior school signature schools plus a school for exceptionalities.
For the full ‘Education Reform in Bermuda’ agreement, view below:
