Ombudsman Arlene Brock has asked for a briefing from Government on how it is handling the CedarBridge Academy mould crisis.

Ms Brock, an independent official who investigates complaints against the Government, told yesterday that she was not carrying out an investigation into the environmental health problem which saw the school closed down by the Ministry of Education last week.

But the Education and Health ministries will be asked to give her information on how they are tackling the mould ? which some teachers believe has affected their health ? and how a review promised by new Education Minister Randy Horton will be carried out.

Mr. Horton appeared to contradict himself about that review yesterday, telling a press conference that it would be independent after stating last week that it would be carried out internally.

He told the media he hoped the review of how the mould situation had been handled would begin by the end of November. Asked what he thought of Opposition MP Michael Dunkley's call for it to be independent, he said: "That's not his idea. I said at the very outset I would have an independent review."

But last week Mr. Horton told a press conference that questions would be answered "when we do the internal review".

He would not comment yesterday on who would carry out the inquiry but said: "When I say independent I mean independent. It will be someone who is not involved, not connected."

He said the public would be told the outcome. "That will be put in place as soon as we are in a position. Our focus right now, folks, is getting our youngsters back in school in their proper setting."

Ms Brock told: "I have spoken with a number of people who have expressed concern to me so I have taken a first step to find out what the Government is planning to do.

"I have requested a briefing on the matter in order to understand what the Government plans to do going forward to investigate the matter and what the review process will entail."

Only 527 CedarBridge pupils ? or 66 percent of the student population ? turned up yesterday for the alternative schooling on harbour islands and at Bermuda College.

The day before, 590 students ? or 74 percent ? attended. Mr. Horton said he wanted to personally thank students for "rising to the occasion" in an unfortunate situation.

Principal Kalmar Richards said parents were told that they had the right to keep their children off school if they were uncomfortable with them travelling on boats to the classes on Paget, Port's and Darrell's islands.

Mr. Horton said that an announcement was likely to be made by Friday on where students would be housed after next week's mid-term break. The old Berkeley building is one option.

"We are driving towards having the kids, the young men and women, back in school by the end of the month," he said.

He criticised a story in yesterday's edition of which quoted the executive director of an American organisation, the Center for School Mold Help, who claimed the school might have to be demolished. "It's reporting that is really not based on information that came from a creditable source," said Mr. Horton, before refusing to answer any other questions concerning the story.

The Center for School Mold Help ? whose website can be found at www.schoolmoldhelp.org ? is a charitable, non-profit organisation based in California which provides educational and scientific information on mould and damp buildings.

Mr. Horton also declined to comment on questions about the results of tests carried out by Texan-firm Microbiology Specialists Inc. in July, though he did confirm that the company was involved in the current clean-up process at CedarBridge.

When a question was put to Mrs. Richards about claims made by a teacher of mould infestation in 2004, Mr. Horton said it would be covered by the review.

Mrs. Richards was quoted in in December 2004 as saying the air quality at CedarBridge had been checked and given a clean bill of health.

Microbiology Specialists found the fungus aspergillus versicolor in samples taken at the school earlier this year.

Paul Harshaw, a lawyer acting for Karen Clemons, a teacher diagnosed with illness caused by aspergillus, said last night it was "highly unlikely" that the school would have to be knocked down.

Mr. Harshaw helped install the fire protection system at CedarBridge while working for an engineering firm and said it was a solid concrete construction. "There is no good reason why mould can't be removed from concrete," he said.