Both the Progressive Labour Party and the National Liberal Party have thrown their support behind a veteran educator's call to scrap an aptitude test for teachers.

Shadow Human Affairs Minister Ewart Brown called a recent decision by the Education Department to test applicants for three deputy principal posts at Cedarbridge Academy "a nasty and dangerous insult to the people of Bermuda''.

The Department decided to administer the test from Government's Personnel Services after 17 people, including Northlands deputy principal Randolph Benjamin, applied for the three posts.

Mr. Benjamin -- who has served as a deputy principal at three schools since 1972 and was voted as one of the most outstanding young people in education in 1977 -- refused to take the test and has threatened legal action against the Ministry.

The Bermuda Union of Teachers has filed a grievance against the Ministry's new hiring practices and the matter is expected to go to arbitration.

But despite the outcome, Mr. Benjamin said he was prepared to use all his resources to preserve his livelihood.

"Education has been my life,'' he said. "It is the only full-time job I've had.'' He noted that his achievements have been recognised by numerous individuals and groups, including former Robert Crawford principal McNeil Warner, lawyer and former deputy principal Arthur Hodgson, and former senior education officer Lynn Phillips.

And Mr. Benjamin said the Education Department should have a record of his performance on file, since he was assessed every three years as a deputy principal.

He also pointed out that he had been preparing himself for the restructured system for the past four years, including conferences abroad on school restructuring and the role of assistant principals.

Mr. Benjamin claimed that the Department's method of dealing with Bermudian staff in the restructuring was also causing teachers stress and some were looking for an alternative career.

Mr. Brown said while the Opposition did not wish to interfere in the Ministry's selection process, it felt that Government had a responsibility to treat Bermudians with respect.

Support for Benjamin He added that despite Mr. Benjamin's "sparkling credentials'', he was "like his colleague Warren Jones'' being subjected to "the raw, racist policies of this Government's Education Ministry''.

"Someone may have the philosophy that if the stress is high enough and the morale is low enough, we can get Bermudians out of the education system,'' Mr.

Brown said. "We've seen that in the hotel industry.'' NLP chairman Charles Jeffers said: "Once again the Ministry of Education are demonstrating they have no real plan. That is seen in the way they have instituted this test.

"We deplore that the candidate for the top post did not have to take the test while Bermudians, having been in the system for years, now have to take a competency test.

"We feel the test should be scrapped and decisions should be made on the merit of their experience and qualifications.

"If they want to institute a test in the future that may be different. But to suddenly spring this on people shows a lack of respect.'' However, Mr. Jeffers said the NLP did not agree with the Opposition's claim of racism.

And Education Minister Jerome Dill said: "I think that Bermudians know that this whole issue is not about Dr. Brown and is not about Mr. Benjamin. It is about the future of our children. There is no benefit of politicising this issue.'' He claimed the entire basis of the PLP's statement was flawed.

"There were 17 applicants for the three positions, included were black and white people,'' Mr. Dill said. "All were required to take the test.'' And while admitting that "there were a number of individuals interviewed prior to taking the test'', he said Mr. Benjamin was not interviewed because he refused to take the test.

Mr. Dill said the test was just another tool that will allow the Ministry to "assess the capabilities of three deputies''.

"This is not a question of singling out Mr. Benjamin,'' he said, adding that ten applicants from the 17 had been shortlisted and they all had to take the test.