A consultant drafted into the Ministry of Education temporarily last summer has had his $90,000-a-year contract renewed for another six months amid claims that the money could be better spent on another teacher.

Communications consultant Scott Simmons confirmed to The Royal Gazette yesterday that his contract — which was due to end on December 31, 2007 — would now run until the end of June.

Mike Charles, general secretary of Bermuda Union of Teachers, said of the news: "That money could definitely pay for a teacher. The money could be better used."

Mr. Simmons was first appointed on August 20 last year to fill "an immediate gap" following the resignation of Department of Communication and Information (DCI) public affairs officer Gary Moreno, who returned to his job at ZBM television news.

Ellen-Kate Horton, who was then acting Permanent Secretary for Education, said at the time that Mr. Simmons would be paid about $30,000 for a four-month contract running until December 31.

She said he would be primarily responsible for handling "all communications pertaining" to the highly critical Hopkins report on the public school system.

Ms Horton rejected claimsthen that his appointment would mean the Ministry of Education's media team was on a combined salary of about $250,000, as did Education Minister Randy Horton who said such claims were "erroneous and mischievous".

But yesterday it emerged that Mr. Moreno had still not been replaced at DCI and that Mr. Simmons, a former Progressive Labour Party press officer who later served as Premier Ewart Brown's press secretary for six months, would receive another $45,000 of taxpayers' money for the first half of this year.

He works alongside dedicated Ministry of Education communications officer Carla Zuill who is paid a similar salary, according to a statement made by Mr. Horton last August.

DCI public affairs officer Magnus Henagulph also handles media inquiries involving education, among other responsibilities.

Shadow Education Minister Grant Gibbons said yesterday he was not sure what Mr. Simmons' role was at the Ministry.

"I can't imagine what he is doing.

"We have got three people who seem to be handling public relations for the Ministry if you count him, Carla Zuill and Magnus Henagulph.

"We felt it was excessive last August and I think again, from my perspective, it's clearly a waste of money and should be redirected to other things. You can pick from supplies to teachers in classrooms or teacher training. It is hard to understand why this money is being spent this way."

Mr. Charles said: "Here we have three people just to report on PR for the Ministry. I don't know if the Ministry needs all that PR. Just get on and do the job!"

Beverley Morfitt, assistant director at DCI, said she could not comment on Mr. Simmons' responsibilities at the Ministry or on Ms Horton's comments last August.

She said: "We cover all of Government and we are currently one person down and right now one of the public affairs officers does have an eye out for education queries. He liaises with Education."

It was not clear last night whether Mr. Simmons' contract will be terminated when the new DCI officer to replace Mr. Moreno is appointed.

Education Minister Randy Horton could not be contacted for comment. Mr. Simmons said he did not wish to comment.