shortage of teachers at the school.

The Royal Gazette understands that during an emergency meeting at the school earlier this week, parents voiced their concerns about the Education Ministry's plan to have the number of teaching staff at the school reduced.

The Ministry reportedly has suggested that staffing be based on the number of students at the school.

Berkeley, which is preparing to become a senior secondary school by the turn of the century, admitted its last class of first-year students in September, last year.

As a result, enrolment dropped from by some 100 students -- from about 550 to 450.

And it is expected to decline further as the remaining students complete their high school studies.

Despite the phasing out of classes as a high school, Berkeley has vowed to fulfil its obligations to the students under the present secondary school curriculum.

Some parents, however, fear that a reduction in staffing will place the variety of courses offered at the school in jeopardy.

Berkeley and Parent Teacher Student Association officials have declined to comment on the matter until a later date.

But it is understood that they have called on the Ministry to reconsider its position.

Education Minister Jerome Dill last night confirmed that he had been approached by the president of the school's PTSA.

"We have agreed to meet and discuss a range of issues,'' he said, declining to comment further.