A guarantor for the company formed to organise this year’s Agricultural Show has raised the idea of letting public school students visit the event as part of an educational trip.

Kirk Kitson spoke out after Government said yesterday that all public schools would be open on Friday, April 17 — a day usually designated as a school holiday to mark the event.

According to the Bermuda Independent Schools Association, a decision is expected today as to whether private schools will open.

“Government is in charge and if the children have to be in school, they have to be in school,” Mr Kitson told The Royal Gazette last night. “That’s Government’s decision.

“But what I would say is, maybe teachers could be allowed to take the children to the Ag Show on the basis of it being an educational experience.”

A spokeswoman for Ag Show Ltd said that while she understood Government’s decision to open the schools, she echoed Mr Kitson’s thoughts.

“We hope they will support the event and allow their students to experience the educational value of Bermuda’s rich agricultural heritage,” she said.

The limited company was officially registered yesterday but is awaiting a memorandum of understanding from the Ministry of Public Works before getting final confirmation that the event will go ahead.

They are calling their event the Agricultural Show rather than use Agricultural Exhibition, the name of Government’s event.

Notice was given on Tuesday that Mr Kitson, Antwan Albouy, David Lopes, Theresa Minors, Ian Truran and Kim White were applying to incorporate the non-profit organisation.

In last week’s Budget statement, Finance Minister Bob Richards told the House of Assembly that to help meet targets, one of the adjustments made included “suspending the Agricultural Exhibition for one year”.

Consequently, the Ministry of Education has advised all parents that public schools will be open with regular school hours on April 17.

There has been a backlash on social media in response to Government’s decision to axe the school holiday, with some arguing that students are being deprived of a ritual cultural experience.

But Acting Commissioner of Education Llewellyn Simmons stated in a letter to school principals: “The 2014-15 school academic year has witnessed numerous disruptions to the school calendar due to hurricanes and industrial action.

“The additional school day will support our efforts to maximise the remainder of the school year with quality time in the classroom.”

Members of Ag Show Ltd’s executive committee said that they could not make further comment about their plans at this time.