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<\/div>\nBermuda Teachers Union (image provided)<\/p>\n
The union says teachers need more resources to deal with students facing more serious mental health issues than ever before.<\/p>\n
The Bermuda Teachers’ Union said in a statement on Sunday that Bermuda’s schools “lack the resources to meet the needs that are being asked of us.”<\/p>\n
A spokesperson said teachers are expected to serve more students with greater mental health issues, such as trauma, anxiety and aggression, sometimes with fewer resources.<\/p>\n
The Department for Education issued a response yesterday acknowledging the concerns raised by educators but insisting the government was acting on information.<\/p>\n
A BUT spokesperson said: \u201cEducators and support staff across Bermuda’s public schools visit classrooms every day where student needs are more complex than ever.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not speculation or exaggeration, but consistent testimony from experts with decades of experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cTeachers who have been here for 20, 30, even 40 years say the same thing without hesitation: The students we see in front of us today are different.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are bearing the effects of trauma, disrupted early development, prolonged social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and mental health issues that extend far beyond the classroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese realities are manifesting in school settings as an increase in students experiencing emotional dysregulation, heightened anxiety, aggression, withdrawal, and a complete lack of ability to cope with the demands of a traditional learning environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cYet there remains an expectation that schools will manage all this with the same resources, and in some cases fewer resources\u2026<\/p>\n
“Supporting students with significant behavioral and mental health needs is not optional. It is fundamental. Without it, learning cannot occur in any meaningful or sustained way.”<\/p>\n
A spokesperson said schools could not be expected to function as the “front line of the mental health system” without the necessary staff and structures in place. He said teachers are expected to meet “clinical-level needs without clinical-level support.”<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not sustainable, it\u2019s not safe, it\u2019s not fair to students and it\u2019s not fair to staff,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need more talent in our schools, not in theory or long-term planning, but in real, immediate, concrete ways.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need more paraprofessionals to support students whose needs require consistent and individual attention.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need more psychologists so that assessments and interventions occur when they are needed, rather than months or years later.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need more counselors, educational therapists and social workers in schools to help students get support before they reach crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cOccupational therapists and physical therapists are needed to address the growing number of developmental and sensory challenges in our classrooms.\u201d<\/p>\n
BUT said it is equally important to give educators time to plan, collaborate, and develop trauma-informed responses rather than responding on the fly or in “survival mode.”<\/p>\n
They said they were managing behavior without the ability to put preventive systems in place.<\/p>\n
BUT said there was a “widening disconnect” between what the Department of Education says publicly about education and what is experienced in classrooms.<\/p>\n
The union also suggested that Education Minister Crystal Caesar had recently missed an opportunity to speak out on the issue, but did not say where the comments were made.<\/p>\n
On March 23, the Department of Education posted on its Instagram page a video clip of Ms. Caesar being asked about whether the public school system needs more teachers, counselors and paraprofessionals. She told the interviewer, “That’s right. We need more people who are full-time teachers, people who are dedicated to educating young people.”<\/p>\n
In response to BUT’s comments, a ministry spokesperson said: “Over the past year, the ministry has taken targeted measures to strengthen support for students, including expanding access to school-based services and programs designed to address complex and diverse needs. We are also strengthening collaboration between education, health and social services to ensure students receive more timely, consistent and comprehensive support.”<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 2026-27 budget reflects this priority and includes expanded funding to strengthen system-wide capacity. This includes increased investment in support staff and essential services, along with significant capital funding to modernize and improve school infrastructure. These investments are aimed at ensuring schools provide high-quality, safe and sustainable teaching and learning environments.\u201d<\/p>\n
The spokesperson added that the immediate focus is on implementation and ensuring the necessary resources are deployed efficiently and without delay.<\/p>\n
He said: “The ongoing civil service recruitment reforms are a key part of this effort, which aims to ensure schools have the talent and support they need in a timely manner.”<\/p>\n
\u201cWe remain committed to meaningful engagement with educators, including BUT, as well as parents and the broader community. Their perspectives are essential as we continue to strengthen our system.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Burt recently met with ministers and the Youth Advisory Council last month to discuss efforts to reduce stigma and improve mental health outcomes for young people.<\/p>\n
A 2023 study involving 76% of middle school and high school students on the island found that 31% of youth surveyed had “moderate to severe” symptoms of depression or anxiety.<\/p>\n
“Educators in Bermuda’s public school system do not raise these concerns lightly. They do so because they see every day the gap between what students need and what the system is currently able to provide,” the BUT spokesperson added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are doing the best they can in the gap, but goodwill and dedication are no substitute for people, resources and time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe message is consistent and urgent.<\/p>\n
“We need more staff. We need more support. We need more time.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnything else is failing to meet this moment and the needs of the students we are all responsible for addressing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n