school system.

Shadow Education Minister Ms Jennifer Smith told the House of Assembly parents were not satisfied with the system or Government's handling of education reforms.

She said in addition to breaking promises frequently, Government was "cutting the muscle and not the fat'' in education.

Ms Smith said because restructuring was the most massive project undertaken by Government -- according to the Minister -- Government should have presented green and whites paper on education reform.

"Had we had a discussion in the House, the public would have a greater understanding,'' she said, adding that part of parents' frustration was that information was coming to them in a "one-way system'' -- the Minister dictating to them.

"I hope we have the opportunity to discuss education before the changes take place,'' she said.

Ms Smith said while there was no doubt that Education Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons had good intentions, that was not enough.

"We know he means well,'' she said. "However, we also know that sometimes good intentions lead you in the wrong direction.'' Mr. Simons had earlier told the House: "I believe our children deserve the best''.

And he said: "We should move ahead with restructuring in a careful, methodical, organised manner without harming the education of children in the existing system''.

Noting parents were particularly concerned about education cuts in the areas of textbooks, teachers, and summer school programmes, Mr. Simons said there will be an adequate supply of textbooks throughout the system and for every classroom there will be an appropriate teacher to student ratio, that is a ratio of 25 to 1 at primary level and 15 to 1 at secondary.

Concerning summer school programmes he said: "I'm working very closely with my Cabinet colleagues, particularly the Finance Minister, to make sure programmes for primary, secondary and special students will take place''.

Mr. Simons also said there would be "more than adequate'' supplies of basic materials such as toilet paper and cleaning substances in schools.

He also moved to clear up claims that some students were waiting over a year for special education assessments.

He said on average it takes 34 days from the time the student is referred to the Department to when he or she is assessed.

Mr. Simons pointed out that improvements were being made to the existing school system as Government was planning for the new system.

He singled out programmes such as Skills for Adolescents which is in 11 primary schools and three special schools, the Peer Helping pilot programme at Berkeley Institute, Warwick Academy, and Whitney Institute; psychology and psychometry services available to students; and the "team process'' in which school staff detect "students at risk'' and pool their resources to help.

Mr. Simons said students, through schools, are also exposed to Bermuda history, research on the environment, and computer networks.

He said over 200 educators had also been trained in middle school education and some were applying it in the classroom already.

"As a result students are benefiting from our plans to restructure.'' Mr. Simons also revealed that Government will be creating a technology officer post.

He said the person filling the post, which will be advertised in the coming months, will be responsible for overseeing technical programmes in schools, for helping to develop a new curriculum for the new education system, and act as technical training counsellor.

A manpower planning officer recently joined the Ministry's Implementation Team, Mr. Simons added.

The officer will be looking at computerisation of personnel records and manpower needs of restructuring the system with consideration given to teachers' preference (of where they want to teach) and the needs of the system.

Plans to integrate "special students'' into schools were already underway, Mr. Simons said.

Areas that will be cut in the Education Department include: General administration to be reduced by $146,000 or from $2.45 million to $2.3 million -- meaning a reduction in money spent on overseas consultants and department staff salaries; Teacher recruitment will be reduced by $2,000 from $69,000; In service training will be reduced by $2,000 from $67,000; Special Services will be reduced by $10,000 from $102,000; Pupil Services will be reduced by $38,000 from $161,000; and No money has been allocated to pay teachers for extra-curricular activities and sabbaticals.

Ms Smith condemned cuts in Special Services and Pupil Services, saying these were areas that will be in increasing demand as schools face more discipline problems.

She said alternate special services such as the Time Out -- which the Education Planning Team suggested should be broadened, could not afford to be cut. The debate will be concluded in tomorrow's newspaper.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, 1993 994 ESTIMATES Ministry objective: To ensure that the youth of Bermuda receive adequate educational opportunities.

Budget estimate $53,759,000 (last year $54,249,000) Budget allocations Ministry of Education HQ $1,636,000 Education Department $43,794,000 Bermuda College $8,329,000 30 Smith attacks Minister.