Parents of Berkeley Institute students are standing their ground and last night launched an initiative to prevent the Ministry of Education from moving students into the new senior school in August this year.

A Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meeting was held at the school last night. Parents, who did not want to be identified, said the Association had decided students would not move into the new school until building work was compete ? which they believed to be September 2006.

?We need to stick together,? one mother said, adding that she was going home to phone as many people as possible in an effort to build up support.

She said the Government would not be able to go against hundreds of parents, teachers and pupils if they stuck together on this issue.

During Education Minister Terry Lister?s budget brief in March, he had announced that the first section of the new senior school would be handed over in May this year.

This comprised class room space, the balance of which would be handed over in August. In an earlier interview, Mr. Lister admitted that students would be starting classes while building work continued.

However, he added that this work would not be disruptive to students as it was only the design and technology area of the school which would not be completely outfitted by September 5 this year.

A media tour of the site is taking place this afternoon allowing the media the chance to see the new school for the first time and visualise that work still needs to be done.

This however, did not relay the fears of parents who last night were adamant that they would not budge.

Gary Philips a spokesman for the School Board of Governors could not be reached for comment as he was involved in the BIC meeting in Devonshire.

Meanwhile the Principal, Michelle Grant Gabisi is abroad and Deputy Principal, Carlos Symonds was unavailable for comment.