The History and Heritage Committee working group “succeeded in submitting the terms of reference” on March 31, Education Minister Diallo Rabain said, adding that he “looks forward to the formal establishment of the History Committee. and Legacy this year, and the work ahead with the preservation, honoring and commemoration of Bermuda’s educational history in the near future.
Speaking in the House of Assembly, Minister Rabain said: “I rise to provide my honorable colleagues and the community of Bermuda with an update on the History and Legacy Committee and the adoption of its terms of reference.
“The History and Heritage Committee was created due to the concerns expressed by the community during the consultation on parochial primary schools. The proposal shared plans for the closure of 10 primary schools to support the vision of parish primary schools that would act as the center of the parish with its community rallying around them. However, this has raised concerns about the loss of the rich history and legacy of Bermuda’s schools.
“Today, I am delighted to report that the Task Force successfully submitted the Terms of Reference on March 31, 2022. I have approved the terms of reference and tentatively adopted all recommendations subject to further development and implementation The History and Legacy Committee will therefore use this mandate as a framework to guide and carry out longer-term work.
“I would like to thank the members of the Task Force, Chair Ms. Heather Whalen, Mr. Randy Scott, Dr. Quito Swan, Dr. Theodore Francis, Mr. Adrian Lodge, Ms. Alberta Dyer-Tucker, Ms. Rhonda Woods-Smith and Mrs. Taneesha Ottley for their willingness and dedication in developing this underlining work. I am also very grateful to those who contributed by helping the Working Group develop the terms of reference.
“I look forward to the formal establishment of the History and Legacy Committee this year, and the work ahead to preserve, honor and commemorate Bermuda’s educational history in the near future.
The Minister’s full statement follows below:
Mister President,
Today, I rise to provide my honorable colleagues and the community of Bermuda with an update on the History and Legacy Committee and the adoption of its terms of reference.
Mister President,
The History and Heritage Committee was created following the concerns expressed by the community during the consultation on parochial primary schools. The proposal shared plans for the closure of 10 primary schools to support the vision of parish primary schools that would act as the center of the parish with its community rallying around them. However, this has raised concerns about the loss of the rich history and legacy of Bermuda’s schools.
My determination to establish this committee to document our educational stories followed extensive conversations with community members, former public school students, as well as current and former educators.
Mister President,
In December last year, I announced the launch of the preparatory work for the History and Legacy Committee by appointing a working group, its members and Ms. Heather Whalen as chair. I shared that this working group would be a small, short-term group that would develop the terms of reference and supporting deliverables towards the formal establishment of the History and Legacy Committee.
Mister President
In my previous update on Education Reform and the History and Legacy Task Force, I shared with my honorable colleagues and the public the progress the task force had undertaken in development of terms of reference and other supporting deliverables for the formulation of the History and Legacy Committee.
Mister President
Today, I am delighted to report that the task force successfully submitted the terms of reference on March 31, 2022. I have approved the terms of reference and tentatively adopted all recommendations subject to a further development and implementation. The History and Heritage Committee will therefore use this mandate as a framework to guide and carry out longer-term work.
Mister President
As part of its Terms of Reference, the Task Force provides the organizational structure, guiding principles, objectives and key deliverables that the History and Legacy Committee would undertake. Due to the nature of the work of the History and Legacy Committee, the task force has proposed that the committee be constituted as a statutory board to ensure consistency and continuity as it grows and evolves with the continued development of history of education.
It was also recommended that the committee function as a steering committee that will oversee the critical processes for inviting, approving and overseeing projects to achieve the goals of documenting, preserving, honoring and commemorating history and the legacy of education in Bermuda. The task force noted the immense scope and complexity of Bermuda’s educational history and decided that it was too large for this committee to undertake this work alone; and that the true context of this story can only be told with the help of the Bermuda community. The task force agreed that the public should come up with recommendations on how best to preserve, honor and commemorate the history and legacy of education in Bermuda.
Mister President
Throughout the development of this monumental work, the working group met weekly, and additionally as needed, to discuss and complete their deliverables. During these meetings, they conducted interviews with historians and former educators to better understand the nature of education in Bermuda at different times in order to help determine the scope of the history of education in Bermuda. Bermuda and how this should influence the range of areas and time periods to be covered. by the History and Heritage Commission. The Task Force also consulted with representatives of the Bermuda National Library and the Bermuda Archives on the various types of written records and artifacts within their respective collections. These collaborations played an important role in the final recommendations for the terms of reference.
Mister President
The next step towards the formation of the History and Heritage Committee is the selection of members through the appointment of the Minister. Initially, the members of the working group will be invited to express their interest in sitting on the committee, followed by members of the public.
Once the History and Legacy Committee has been formally established, committee members will review and agree internal operations in accordance with the Terms of Reference, determine the scope and guidelines for various proposals, and solicit proposals from the community. on the specific scope they wish to undertake. on the first.
Mister President
The success of the History and Legacy Committee is the responsibility of ALL Bermudians because it is OUR story to be told in the way WE want to tell and show it and in a way that will benefit US. Our community deserves to know and have access to every part of Bermuda’s history like other countries in the world. I hope that through the work of the community and the History and Legacy Committee, we can tell the story of the evolution of education in Bermuda, and that it will grow and transform our trust and belief in the provision of education.
Mister President
I would like to thank the members of the Task Force, Chair Ms. Heather Whalen, Mr. Randy Scott, Dr. Quito Swan, Dr. Theodore Francis, Mr. Adrian Lodge, Ms. Alberta Dyer-Tucker, Ms. Rhonda Woods-Smith and Ms. Taneesha Ottley for their willingness and dedication to developing this captioning work. I am also very grateful to those who contributed by helping the Working Group develop the terms of reference.
I look forward to the formal establishment of the History and Legacy Committee this year, and the work ahead to preserve, honor and commemorate Bermuda’s educational history in the near future.
Thank you, Mr President.
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