Senators yesterday approved the allocation of cash in this year's Budget for the education department.

But Government and Opposition members clashed over just how effective the system has served the Island's youth in the past year.

For the Government Sen. Angelita Fox claimed that the department, and all those involved in education, had done a sterling job in keeping the education system running while at the same time introducing major changes.

But Sen. Neletha Butterfield argued that too many students were slipping through the net, with too many students failing their school certificate.

Sen. Fox said: "The Ministry and administrators and staff and everyone who has participated in the process of change have taken on a feat that most of us would not have expected to be possible.

"They have been able to take a critical look at the education system and have agreed to make recommendations for change.'' Sen. Fox highlighted the number of new teachers that had been drafted into education, saying that many of them were Bermudian.

She claimed that new curriculums were being developed and teacher assessment programmes were being introduced, while a special enrichment programme would make sure that high flyers were challenged.

And she highlighted the success of Bermuda College and said that CedarBridge had also been successful.

"Overall CedarBridge has been successfully implemented and as time goes by there will be improvements.

"A lot has been said about CedarBridge but I think we need to take a step back.

"Behavioural problems have a significant impact and one bad apple can spoil the whole bunch.

"Bermuda College had the aim of being the first choice of 75 percent of school graduates and it has come very close to that. There have been improvements in curriculum and attendance. Our colleges are made good use of so people are recognising the quality of education there and taking advantage of it.'' But Sen. Butterfield said that too many students were failing their BSSC exams and the Government was not doing enough to stop truancy.

"There are hundreds of young people out there who don't have their BSSC,'' she said.

"We should be trying to get this mark up and we have to make somebody accountable.''