More protection is needed for Bermuda's teachers within the school grounds, Paula Cox said on Friday.

Speaking as Education Minister for the first time in Parliament, Ms Cox said in some cases teachers have suffered physicals attacks and that the situation is particularly bad in the senior schools.

Ms Cox said she hoped to draw on the contacts she developed with Police when she was Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Public Safety to try and improve the security situation for teachers.

She said that teachers had made her aware of their concerns about safety and that security was an important issue to their ability to work for Bermuda's youth.

"It's unconscionable to have teachers working in an area where they might be subject to attack," she said.

Police will be asked to liase with teachers in order to discuss safety concerns.

While Ms Cox said it was only a small minority of students that were causing problems it was in the overall best interest of Bermuda to stamp out violence in the schools.

"Government has a responsibility to create a safe haven," Ms Cox said.