Northlands teachers and parents yesterday protested the rejection of the school's acting principal bid to become a full-time head teacher.

And Shadow Education Minister the Hon. Jennifer Smith called on Education Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira to resolve the dispute.

Staff and parents claim Mr. Warren Jones, who has been Northlands' acting principal for the past three years, was not even considered for an interview for the vacant principal's position.

The teachers said Mr. Jones, who had applied for a principal's job, was told yesterday that he was not being considered to fill any of the current vacancies.

Defying general orders which forbid all Government employees, except those who have been given specific permission, from speaking to the media, 27 of the 30 Northlands teachers on staff held a press conference in the school gym yesterday.

Deputy principal Mr. Randy Benjamin said the teachers assembled to show their solidarity for Mr. Jones.

"We are here out of concern,'' Mr. Benjamin said, "because an injustice has occurred. We're not saying that he needs to be the principal of this school necessarily, only that he does deserve to be a principal.'' Amalgamated Bermuda Union of Teachers president Sen. Milton Scott also attended yesterday's press conference.

He said the ABUT supported the teachers and the PTA, adding that regulations governing the running of the PSC were flawed because they put too much power in the Permanent Secretary's hands.

Consequently, teachers' possibilities for professional advancement suffered because there was no right of appeal to an independent body when disputes arose.

Northlands PTA president Mrs. Lynette Waldron said in an emotional speech that her organisation backed Mr. Jones as the best choice to be Northlands principal.

"We are a family,'' she said. "Are they just going to take away our father figure? His record speaks for itself.'' Several teachers, speaking anonymously, said that during the three years Mr.

Jones had been the acting principal, there had been harmony among the staff.

And for the last two years students' BSSC results had been the highest the school had ever had.

They said that in the past 12 years the principal had been changed three times, the latest being in 1989, 1991, and 1994.

"Each time the principal changes there is always some disruption of the routine as we all have to get used to the newcomer's leadership style,'' one female teacher said.

Mr. Benjamin explained that while each staff member is aware of the rules prohibiting speaking to the media, they felt compelled to take a stand and speak out against "this miscarriage of justice''.

Ms Smith said she was "absolutely astounded'' to find out that Mr. Jones was still the acting principal.

"He is eminently qualified,'' she said. "He has taken the requisite courses and because of his own perseverance he has made it this far. To be summarily excluded after getting so far is extremely dubious.

"It is very seldom that teachers, given the constraints that they work under, step out like this,'' she said. "But it indicates the esteem and loyalty he (Jones) inspires. This should give the Ministry pause. I call on the Minister to step into the fray and place Mr. Jones in a place where he is able to contribute.'' But Dr. Terceira said it was outside his jurisdiction and a matter for the Public Service Commission.

Chief Education Officer Mr. Dean Furbert and Permanent Secretary of Education Dr. Marion Robinson could not be reached for comment.