By John Burchall Dellwood parents have gone over the Education Minister's head and invited the Premier to address them on why their primary-aged children would be better off at Northlands when it reverts to a primary school in 1997.

The Royal Gazette understands this latest move comes only days after the Education Minister, the Hon. Clarence Terceira, turned down a second request to speak to parents.

Mrs. Mary Samuels, who chairs the Dellwood restructuring committee -- a parents group opposed to Government's plan to send all 300 Dellwood pupils to Northlands -- said parents were fed up with Dr. Terceira's "arrogant and at times ignorant and dictatorial stance toward them''.

She confirmed the letter had been faxed to the Premier, the Hon. Sir John Swan, yesterday so that he could explain to parents the United Bermuda Party's plan for their children.

"If one looks at the UBP's blueprint it says clearly that they are a party committed to consensus. Yet the Education Minister has refused to speak to us directly on two occasions.'' Despite this, Mrs. Samuels said a third invitation was being extended to the Minister although he is not expected to accept.

Consequently the committee, she said, has decided to ask the Premier to intervene.

Meanwhile, the committee intends to march on Parliament next Friday to present a petition, that so far has more than 1,300 signatures.

They are also planning to march with all 300 current Dellwood pupils to Northlands, to demonstrate how ill-suited that site is for children between five-10 years.

Next Thursday, the Dellwood PTA have invited Shadow Education Minister Ms Jennifer Smith and other Pembroke PLP politicians to their meeting in a measure designed to drum up more support for their cause.

The Coalition for Protection of Children, the National PTA, West Pembroke and Victor Scott schools have all thrown their support behind the Dellwood parents.

At a PTA meeting last Thursday, 84 Dellwood parents voted for the fourth time on this issue and rejected the Government's proposal to send their children to Northlands. Only one parent abstained.

On Monday, the Dellwood PTA held a Press conference and rejected Government's latest announcement that it will make Northlands Secondary School a primary school for Dellwood students in 1997.

But Dr. Terceira, has said that Government had left no stone unturned in its search for the best solution to the problem.

He vowed to stand by Government's final decision and said plans were underway that would make improvements to Northlands including an underpass that is aimed to protect children from traffic, extensions to the present playing field and railings for the second floor balconies.