An official response still has not been received to the St. George?s Prep appeal, despite it being filed more than three weeks ago.

However chairman of the Appeals Committee Wilbur Lowe said the apsaid the appeal will probably be heard some time next week.

?The only reason we know they?ve got it is because there was a response in ,? parent leader Nick Duffy said this week. ?But there has been nothing official from the Appeals Board.?

Parents are appealing a Government decision to terminate the second Primary One stream at St. George?s Prep, opening a second Primary One stream at East End Primary instead.

Though parents applauded the opening of the second stream at East End, they failed to understand why the stream at St. George?s Prep was terminated, saying there were enough children eager to enter the public school system in the East End to keep both streams open.

However Education Minister Terry Lister responded by saying his Ministry had to view the school system nation-wide, not just in the East End, and that the closing of the second stream at St. George?s Prep would prevent logjams later on.

In an article published in this newspaper on April 5, Dr. Lowe said the appeal documents had been received by the Appeals Committee.

Yet lawyers at Wakefield Quin who are handling the appeal remained ?not very impressed? with the lack of an official response, Mr. Duffy said.

??Frustrating? is a good words to use,? he said. ?There are 25 families here, 26 kids ? one set of twins. This is the education of 26 children we?re talking about here. But, thus far, we haven?t heard a thing. All the parents are just scratching their heads and getting frustrated. It doesn?t make us feel like a high priority.

?It?s just more frustration for 25 families.?

Dr. Lowe said on Thursday night Wakefield Quin would be receiving a call ?shortly?.

?We did get the letter,? he said. ?We are handling this no differently from any other appeal.

?We don?t usually let them know in writing when we have received an appeal,? he added. ?Usually, we call and say here?s the date the appeal will be heard.

?I know it?s been a while, but I want them to understand we have to take this appeal in order ... It?s nothing against them, we just take them as they come. There were about 14 appeals before this one.

?We will do three on Tuesday, and then start on St. George?s ... They can be assured of a very fair hearing.?