the Education Ministry's budget-trimming efforts were denied this week.

A parent, at the National PTA's monthly meeting, made the claim.

He said he learned from a reliable source that three teachers, including one who "teaches a technical subject'', will have to be cut from St. George's Secondary.

His comments were made as parents agreed that high schools needed an equal curriculum, rather than new buildings, to be brought up to equal, proper standards.

The parent said even if some schools wanted to diversify their curriculum, it would be hard to do so with such teacher cuts.

But senior education officer of administration and personnel Mr. Robert Horton said while it was likely that St. George's had to reduce its teaching staff by three, "no technical teacher will be cut''.

Mr. Horton noted that Education Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons had promised that there will be no redundancies.

The deadline for Bermudian teachers to inform the department about whether they wanted to move to another school was yesterday, Mr. Horton said.

He was expected to have a better idea about the reduction of teacher posts at schools later this month.

During last week's education budget debate, Mr. Simons announced that his Ministry will be advertising for a technology officer in the coming months.

The successful applicant, filling the new post, will be responsible for overseeing technology programmes currently in place in secondary schools, Mr.

Simons said.

"It is my hope that improvements can be made in these programmes in the immediate future,'' he said.

"The officer will play a significant role in the developing of the new curriculum to be used in middle schools and in our senior secondary schools in a restructured system.

"He will also work with the Apprenticeship and Training Council and will act as the secretary to that body which brings together representatives of businesses, trade unions and Government.'' Also at the National PTA's monthly meeting, president Mrs. Marian Askia said it was clear that parents were not prepared to wait until 2002 to see their children get a good education.

Stressing that the National PTA was a non-partisan, education watchdog group, she said no matter what party was in power, "if they are not doing their job, they will have to answer to parents''.

And while refusing to be dragged into a back-and-forth row with her critics, Mrs. Askia said anyone who knew her would know that she has no political aspirations.

"What matters is that I have two children in this education system who need to be educated properly,'' she said.

Referring to last week's unprecedented march on Parliament by parents, students and teachers, Mrs. Askia said while she was informed by Education Permanent Secretary Dr. Marion Robinson that Mr. Simons would not be able to accept the National PTA's invitation to be at City Hall before the march, she was never told that he would not come out of the House to accept the group's petition.

Mrs. Askia praised the committee the march and the more than one thousand parents, teachers, and students who participated in it.

"A lot of people not only contributed their time, but their resources,'' she said.

Thank-you letters will be sent out this week to PTAs, Mrs. Askia said.

The National PTA was still receiving signatures from its petition against education cuts this week.

MR. ROBERT HORTON -- The senior education officer said "no technical teacher will be cut''.