The Education Minister has defended a decision not to renew the contract of an uncertified teacher working in two public primary schools.

Terry Lister said the Ministry of Education had already bent the rules for Bim Bademosi, a music teacher at Southampton Glebe and West End primary schools.

Parents spoke of their anger last week when Mr. Bademosi was told his contract would not be renewed when it ran out in August because he was not yet certified.

But Mr. Lister told : ?He was given three years to qualify as is the case with all teachers.

?His three years were up on August 31, 2005. He said he was still qualifying so we bent the rules for him and contracted him until December 31.

?When that came around he wasn?t quite finished. His contract is now until August, 2006.?

Mr. Lister said parents who complained that Mr. Bademosi?s job was to go to a non-Bermudian were misinformed.

?I doubt if he was ever told who was going to replace him.

?We would never tell a teacher who was going to replace him or her.

?All I know is he has to go because his time is up.?

He said Mr. Bademosi had told the Ministry he was not on a certification course at the moment but was hoping to sign up for one shortly.

Mr. Bademosi, 37, of Sandys, declined to comment.