In 2017, the Progressive Labour Party pledged to abolish middle schools, replacing them with signature secondary schools specialising in various disciplines. However, system-wide reforms including phasing out middle schools were put on pause in February under Crystal Caesar, who had assumed the education post from Mr Rabain in 2025. While Ms Caesar had stated that parents “voted with their feet” by continuing to place their children in middle schools, Mr Rabain ascribed the move to uncertainty over changes to schools, adding: “That is the trust we need to earn. Major public policy should be open to public scrutiny, especially when it affects every family with children in our public schools.” Mr Smith said that if the evidence proved “compelling, people will support it”.