Students and parents protest against school reform reversal; idea to go back to Primary 1-6 comes from principals themselves
Students from Francis Patton Primary staged a roadside protest this morning, saying they don’t want to see Government backtrack on changes already enacted through education reform.
The Royal Gazette reports that the gathering involved mostly Year 7 and 8 students – those who could be displaced if current concerns prove true.
Francis Patton was opened as one of the first two Parish Primaries in September 2023, and is now teaching students from Year 1 to Year 8 – retaining pupils for an additional two years than was done with the previous model.
Under the Government’s education reform, public middle schools would eventually be abolished, and senior schools would start receiving Year 9 students.
However, parents learned on Wednesday that consideration was being given to returning Parish Primary schools to the previous model of teaching years 1 to 6, and middle schools keep teaching years 7-9 as lower secondary schools.
Parents were also present at today’s protest, with students brandishing signs that read “Let us stay at Francis Patton”, and “Parents deserve clarity, not confusion”…
Notably, the proposal to physically reverse some of the school changes comes from Parish Primary and Middle School principals themselves, in discussion with the Minister of Education, Crystal Caesar.
Infrastructure, oversubscription and parental concerns were apparently cited as factors in the proposal. We understand further stakeholder discussions will take place before any decisions are made.
Meanwhile, parents of Year 6 and Year 7 students across Bermuda’s four parish schools have called for a meeting with government leaders to discuss the reforms.
In a statement, the parents said they are upset and frustrated by the constant changes being made to the education system.
Elliot Parish Primary School PTA will hold a Town Hall at the school, 6pm on Monday, to discuss ongoing education reform.
