secondary education under the new procedure for transferring pupils from primary school.

The Hon. Gerald Simons said he had a "very positive'' meeting with National PTA president Mrs. Marian Askia and two other PTA representatives on Monday.

The three women wanted assurances that students would receive sound educations regardless of what schools they attended, and that they would receive the subjects needed to enter Bermuda College and other post-secondary institutions, Mr. Simons told The Royal Gazette .

The Minister said he told them one foreign language and one science is generally needed, in addition to mathematics and English, to enter colleges in Bermuda and abroad.

All Bermuda secondary schools "offer at least one foreign language and two sciences,'' Mr. Simons said.

The PTA representatives "were much happier that the schools would offer the courses their children would need.'' But students must not only take the required subjects, they must also do well in them, he said.

Also at the meeting, "the parents supported the view that the college should have high standards of admission, and so should the secondary schools,'' he said.

In addition to programmes intended for college-bound students, all secondary schools but Warwick Academy and Berkeley Institute will have special programme classes for those who need more work, Mr. Simons said.

Under the new transfer system, examination results affect admission to only Warwick Academy and Berkeley Institute. Other admissions are on the basis of personal choice and geographical proximity.

Mrs. Askia could not be reached for comment.