A fifth of Bermuda’s paraprofessionals and educational therapists have had their jobs axed, it was announced yesterday.Minister of Education Dame Jennifer Smith said 30 out of a total 150 staff will be affected.Paraprofessionals and educational therapists assist teachers and special-needs children in the classroom. All those affected are on one-year contracts.Dame Jennifer stated during the March budget debate that the number of paraprofessionals would be reviewed “as they cost a significant amount”.She pledged children would continue to get the support they need, despite the cost-cutting measures.Last night, she said: “We see a number of areas where improvements can be made. And a manning review suggests we have a paraprofessional surplus to some of our requirements.“Therefore, just as I signalled during the education budget debate, personnel levels will be affected. In line with the collective bargaining agreement that we have with the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT), all paraprofessionals and educational therapist assistants assigned to public schools with one-year contracts are being notified that their contracts will not be renewed for September 2011.”She said the BUT agreement requires the Ministry to advise the staff of their status no later than today, June 1, and the Ministry has complied with the requirement.“However, as parents will be aware, we must still provide the necessary services to students as required. This means that if necessary, we will contact those qualified individuals if needed,” she said.“I think the public will agree that while paraprofessionals provide a much needed service, there is also room for improvement. To that end, we plan to establish a clear qualifying standard for paraprofessionals, while also instituting a programme to ensure those who wish to [can] upgrade their skills.”She added that “information regarding staff cost reductions in the Department of Education and Ministry headquarters” will be released prior to the end of June.The news follows concern expressed by the Bermuda Union of Teachers earlier this week that teachers want to know their own fate by today.General Secretary Mike Charles said a collective agreement states that any teachers losing their jobs this summer must be officially informed by June 1.He said the Ministry asked to extend the deadline, but teachers feel they deserve to know their fate by the agreed date.Dame Jennifer’s press release made no mention of teachers’ jobs although her spokeswoman noted when issuing it that “there has been much discussion in recent days regarding teaching job losses.”She spokeswoman later clarified: “As it relates to other teaching contracts, the Ministry can confirm that those individuals who are currently on contract will be advised of the status of their contracts with the Ministry as of [today] June 1.