schools as substitute teachers, it has been revealed.

Government regularly employs people to stand in as substitute teachers and permits them to teach a variety of subjects, provided they have some kind of university degree.

Education Minister Milton Scott has come under fire after revealing that out of 100 or so stand-in teachers on the Island, only some were officially certified to teach in schools.

The rest may have no experience or training whatsoever and, although academically bright, be unable to transfer their knowledge to pupils.

The Royal Gazette was alerted to Government's policy when it was informed that former Bank of Bermuda loans officer Arnold Todd was now working as a supply teacher on the Island, without having any formal teacher training.

Sen. Scott confirmed that Mr. Todd, whose wife is human resources manager in the Education Ministry, had been on the books for two years, teaching business studies and physical education.

But he said that it was nothing unusual, even going as far as to appeal, through the newspaper, for more people to come forward and apply.

"He is on a substitute teacher list,'' said Sen. Scott. "He will be an uncertified individual who is qualified to be a supply teacher.

"We have a little over 100 supply teachers, some are certified and some are not, but all have degrees.

"If we had to rely on only qualified teachers to be supply teachers, we would not have enough. It is not an uncommon practice in other jurisdictions.'' He said substitute teachers, who are brought in when full-time teachers are suddenly unable to attend school, work varying amounts from year to year and are not assigned to any particular school.

Some could work only a few days a year, others a lot more.

And the Education Minister said certified teachers were always utilised first, with uncertified people being brought in when there were none available.

He appealed for qualified teachers to offer their services to the Ministry, but also said anyone with a degree could apply and become a supply teacher if they got through the screening process.

The Royal Gazette was not given the number of certified substitutes in comparison to uncertified stand in teachers.

Bermuda Union of Teachers president Michael Charles said he had no idea uncertified teachers were regularly used and accused Government of putting "babysitters'' in to classrooms.

He said: "It has been my understanding that uncertified teachers were only used in extreme circumstances when the Ministry couldn't come up with anyone else.

"What they are basically doing is getting someone to babysit a class, which I don't believe is the norm.

"I cannot speak for the Ministry and I do not exactly know how many are uncertified, but it worries me. Having a degree does not qualify anyone to teach.

"Is this man qualified to teach physical education (PE). I was a PE instructor and I take great offence when people think that anyone can teach it. It takes a lot of training.

"You have to think of what it involves and the consequences that could occur.

"As a professional body, this is something we would not encourage and we would not like to think Government was actively looking for uncertified people.'' People who are from any part of the European Union (EU) and are working in the EU must be certified to be able to work as a supply teacher.

Anyone applying to work in the EU as a substitute teacher, but who is from outside of the union, can only do so for two years without being formally trained. After that they must stop.

In the US, some supply teachers are not certified. However, some states are so concerned about the lack of training among stand-in teachers that they demand parents be informed by the schools if their children are taught by uncertified teachers for a month or more.

But in Barbados, subsistiute teachers need only have four GCE O Levels or the equivalent.

Acting Shadow Education Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said last night that when Government came into power it made a commitment to ensure that there were appropriate and proper standards for teachers to meet.

He said: "What we would like to know is where is the Government standing on this issue of standards.

"I think the Ministry should tell us how many uncertified teachers they have.'' George Cook, president of Bermuda College, would not comment on Government's policy on supply teachers but said he did not believe it to be the norm.

He said as an independent establishment, the college only employed certified supply teachers who could provide the necessary skills needed.

Sen. Milton Scott