held by some 50 non-Bermudian teachers, Education Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons disclosed.

Responding to Shadow Education Minister Miss Jennifer Smith's request that he "confirm and demonstrate'' there are no qualified Bermudian teachers to fill any posts held by 52 non-Bermudian teachers, Mr. Simons said in the House of Assembly's final summer sitting last Friday the contracts of 47 non-Bermudian teachers were renewed for the 1992/93 school year because "no qualified Bermudian applicants are available to fill these forty-seven post''.

However, Mr. Simons stressed that "every effort has been made to ensure the placement where possible of qualified Bermudian teachers''.

Of the 47 teachers whose contracts were renewed, seven were offered posts in primary schools; seven were offered posts in special schools or are providing "support services for students'', and 33 were offered posts in secondary schools.

Five of those who secured jobs in primary schools were entitled to Spouse's Employment Rights Certificates, Mr. Simons said, adding that one of the teachers will teach general classroom subjects and physical education for girls.

He said four of the seven non-Bermudian teachers offered posts at special schools are entitled to Spouse's Employment Rights Certificates. One is a teacher of the severely handicapped, he said, while another teacher is a physical education teacher and one teaches general classroom subjects.

Mr. Simons said four of the 33 who will be teaching at secondary schools are entitled to Spouse's Employment Rights Certificates and the remaining 29 will teach a wide variety of subjects "for which no qualified Bermudians have made application''.

And he added: "I can confirm that no qualified Bermudian teachers or non-Bermudian teachers currently on employment contracts have made application to fill the seven posts which have been offered to non-Bermudians who will be recruited from abroad for the next school year''.

Miss Smith also asked the highest amount in housing allowance given to a contract teacher annually and how many of the 23 teachers currently receiving housing allowances are "newly-employed and "long-serving''.

Mr. Simons said of the 23 teachers, eight are in their first contract.

Works and Engineering Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira said $9,000 is the highest housing allowance given to a contract teacher annually. The lowest is $40.