Platforms

Education Platform 2010

Overview

Background

• Bermuda’s education system boasts the highest costs per student world-wide with many diverse programs within the public school arena; however performance, as measured by student outcomes is woefully sub-standard.
• This is due to a number of historical problems including failed leadership, a lack of accountability and transparency within the system, and an inconsistent alignment of curriculum.
• The future of Bermuda and our Island’s continued success depends on our children being effectively educated.

Problems

• A top heavy and ineffective Ministry of Education.
• An under-performing public school system, resulting in lack of public confidence, and withdrawal of large numbers of students.
• Discipline problems involving both behaviorally and academically challenged children police resources.
• Inconsistent and poor quality teaching in many classrooms throughout the school system.
• A legacy of “social promotion” where students are advanced without attaining the required standards for promotion.
• Failure to effectively guide students towards careers which support the Bermuda economy.
• Repetitive reviews and use of consultants, at great expense, without implementation of recommendations.
• A poorly managed, substantive and excessive budget resulting in a economic crisis within the Ministry.

A Better Way

 

Solutions

• Immediate implementation of the Hopkins Report recommendations.
• Implement a moratorium on further reports and consultants until the Hopkins Report recommendations are fully enacted.
• Stop social promotion by implementing rigorous programs to ensure that students are prepared to move on to the next academic level.
• Enforce the established “Code of Conduct” to address disciplinary issues within the classroom, combined with an outreach program for parents, reviewing and supporting their responsibilities.
• Publish the results of annual standardized exams in a timely manner and hold Ministry employees accountable for these results.
• Hire and maintain the best teachers based on a contractual performance review.
• Explore the provision of a Government coordinated island-wide after school sports and arts program for students.
• Make teaching of Bermuda’s economy, history and culture mandatory. It is important that all students know how our society functions and the role they play.
• Create a central and non-partisan agency for applying for scholarships

 

Summary 

The Bermuda Democratic Alliance believes that the future of Bermuda and our Island’s continued success depends on our children being effectively educated.

Education is also a key factor in correcting Bermuda’s social-economic disparities, which are increasingly manifesting themselves with escalating anti-social behavior.

The Bermuda Democratic Alliance believes that education is a core issue which must be immediately addressed to ensure a viable future.

Crime Platform 2010

Overview 

Background

• Crime has grown by 135% over the past 7 years.
• Budget funding for the Bermuda Police Force and the number of police officers has not increased.
• Bermuda’s public view crime as one of the most pressing concerns for Bermuda

Problems

• Breakdown of the extended family structure
• Lack of education and employment opportunities for black males
• General deficiencies within the education system
• Poor public perception of the Bermuda Police Service
• Lack of confidence in the criminal prosecution process
• Inappropriate prioritization in the allocation of police resources
• Systemic challenges within the mental health services and in the provision of mental health community care, resulting in at-risk individuals committing violent acts
• Abuse of illegal drugs and growth of the drug trade
• Growth of gang activity
• Gangs impacting on an increase in violent and gun-related crime

 

A Better Way

 

Solutions

• Modernization of the Criminal Code Act 1909 to provide a clear working piece of legislation that covers all laws relating to crime.
• Rejuvenation of the practice of Community Policing resulting in:
  • More Police on the beat
  • Increased trust between the Bermuda Police Service and the communities they serve
  • Faster reaction times to local incidents
  • Better protection of homeowners and their property
• Use of new technologies:
  
  • Police video cameras and increased CCTV monitoring
  • Electronic monitoring (tagging) of offenders
  • Video-taping of Bermuda Police Service interviews
  • Modernization of the Court reporting system
• Foster a working relationship with Government House to ensure efficient policing.
• Improve communication between police and the Prosecution service.
• Legislation including:
  • The establishment and maintenance of community crime watches
  • Review of drunk driving legislation to reduce traffic related offences
  • Review of the alternatives to traditional incarceration for offenders, in order to expand the opportunities for rehabilitation and re-education
  • Education of, and dialogue with young people to deter gang involvement
  • An increase in the number of social programs available e.g. by expansion of the number of youth centres
  • Implementation of “anti-gang legislation”.
  • Strengthening provision of mental health services and the availability of crisis community mental health responders

 

Summary

The Bermuda Democratic Alliance accepts that there is no "magic solution" for the reduction of crime in Bermuda. The efforts to reduce crime requires a multi-pronged approach which is both reactive, addressing the current level of crime and also proactive in the prevention of crime. This is A Better Way in addressing this serious social concern

Education Platform Press Release

March 2010

 

BERMUDA DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE 
Unveils Education Platform

 

The Bermuda Democratic Alliance unveiled their education platform today as they shared with the community their vision for a Better Way. Members of the Bermuda Democratic Alliance Education Committee, headed by Myron Piper, called for immediate action to dramatically improve the education system. The Alliance believes a strong education system is vital in ensuring all Bermudians are equipped with the knowledge and understanding to maintain our freedoms and prosperity.

 

Myron Piper explained that Bermuda’s current education system was hindered by a number of historical problems including failed leadership and an inconsistent focus on the basics. Bermuda’s education system boasts the highest cost per student world-wide. However sadly this cost has not translated to performance as student outcome is woefully sub-standard. Mr Myron Piper noted,

 

“The future of Bermuda and our continued success depends on our children being effectively educated. Education is also a key factor in correcting Bermuda’s socio-economic disparities, which are increasingly manifesting themselves with escalating anti-social behaviour. We believe Bermuda’s students are unnecessarily suffering due to failed leadership, a lack of accountability and transparency within the system and an inconsistent alignment of curriculum across the board.”

 

The Bermuda Democratic Alliance unveiled the basis of their education platform which aims to immediately improve student outcome while also addressing systemic failures to ensure the long term success of Bermuda’s education system. Their platform calls for:

• Implementation of the Hopkins Report which called for a dramatic improvement in the quality of teaching and leadership by principals and radical reform to the Ministry of Education.
• Imposing a moratorium on further reports and consultants until the Hopkins Report recommendations are fully enacted. It is neither necessary nor prudent to devote further funds on consultants when the focus should be on taking action.
• Immediate halt to social promotion instead ensuring students are academically prepared to progress onto the next academic level.
• Enforcement of the “Code of Conduct” to address disciplinary issues within the classroom combined with an outreach programme for parents.
• Publishing the results of annual standardised exams in a timely manner and holding Ministry of Education employees accountable for these results.
• Hire and maintain the best teachers based on a contractual performance review. Require that teachers’ contracts are renewed based on individual performance and merit. A performance management system should be introduced whereby Those teachers who are ineffective and who are unable to produce results are managed out while promoting those teachers who are exemplary.
• Create a specialized learning centre for principals and teachers that will provide ongoing professional development and leadership training.

• Ensure the teaching of Bermuda’s economy, history and culture are mandatory so all students know our Island’s past, how our society functions and the role they play in its success
• Establish a Government coordinated after-school academic support, sports and arts programme.
• Creating a central and non-partisan agency for applying for scholarships.

In closing Myron Piper explained that the Bermuda Democratic Alliance was not looking to reinvent the wheel but to put into action those solutions that had already been identified while returning back to the basics.

“We don’t have years to get this right or time to further analyse the issues at hand. We are all aware that education needs immediate attention. We must be deliberate in our actions now so we can  prepare the  students of today for the challenges and  opportunities of tomorrow. We must support our teachers and provide them with the tools to succeed, we must strengthen the role of our principals, implement greater accountability across the board and provide confidence and guidance to our parents so our students can thrive not only in Bermuda but stand equally with others on the world stage.”