GOVERNMENT MP Dean Foggo will today ask Education Minister Terry Lister for his reasons for deciding to close down a popular primary school class in St. George's.

Parents learned yesterday that Education Minister Terry Lister had confirmed his decision to close the second stream primary one class at St. George's Prep School and replace it with an extra class at East End Primary School.

Now the issue threatens to open a rift in the parliamentary ranks of the governing Progressive Labour Party (PLP).

Two PLP MPs for St. George's ? former Premier Jennifer Smith and Dean Foggo ? backed parents' call for the class to be kept open at a public meeting last week.

But their pleas, and those of school trustees who met with Mr. Lister last Friday, have failed to alter the Minister's opinion.

Mr. Foggo said he would speak with Minister Lister at the House of Assembly today about the decision.

He said that Mr. Lister had previously asked for an opinion from him and Ms Smith.

"We gave him a letter, saying that if the demand is there, both St. George's Prep and East End Primary should have two streams," Mr. Foggo said yesterday.

"I will see Mr. Lister at the House and I will ask him for his reasoning behind the decision. When my phone starts ringing, I will then be able to explain his reasoning to my constituents."

Mr. Foggo added that 13 of the parents affected lived in his constituency and he would continue to keep the Minister in touch with their opinions.

Meanwhile, Opposition Senate Leader Kim Swan has called for a bipartisan effort from East End politicians to change the Government's mind over the class closure.

Now Sen. Swan, of the United Bermuda Party (UBP), has proposed that he and Kenneth Bascome, his party colleague in the Senate, present a united front with their political opponents, Ms Smith and Mr. Foggo, as they continue to fight the decision.

"I am very disappointed in this decision and we will take the opportunity to meet with concerned parents and see how we can take the protest further," said Sen. Swan, who argued against the closure in the Senate, partly on the basis of Census 2000 figures that showed the population of St. George's was growing three times faster than that of the island as a whole.

"I will also be calling on the support of the local MPs to hold hands with myself and my colleague in the Senate so we can make a bipartisan effort on behalf of the people of St. George's."

Three East End schools have been oversubscribed by 18 children who have been offered places in other parts of the island. St. George's Prep School accounts for 11 of those children.

The Ministry's solution ? to replace the Prep School's second stream with one at East End Primary ? would still leave a shortfall of 12 children.

Controversy erupted when parents were told the Prep School's second stream would be eliminated by September.

Mr. Lister was concerned that maintaining two streams at St. George's Prep School would eventually lead to difficulties accommodating students at the upper levels in the long term.

St. George's Prep trustees met with Mr. Lister last week and proposed their solution, involving both their school and East End Primary having a second stream.

But yesterday they learned that the Minister has no plans to budge on his original plan.