Ruling party backbenchers Jennifer Smith and Dean Foggo continue to oppose a decision to cut an entry level class at St. George's Prep.

The St. George's MPs boosted parents' hopes when Ms Smith announced at a PTA meeting two weeks ago that they had recommended to Education Minister Terry Lister that both East End Primary and St. George's Prep should have two entry level classrooms. Despite the support, Mr. Lister announced his decision on Monday to cut one of the classes at St. George's Prep.

Last week the St. George's Prep PTA issued a statement expressing its disappointment that they had lost the backbenchers' support.

But Mr. Foggo corrected the record when contacted yesterday.

“I don't speak for Ms Smith but I know her position has not changed. And my position has not changed - I still believe in two streams for East End Primary and two streams for St. George's Prep,” Mr. Foggo said.

He was reluctant to comment any further saying he was concerned about being misinterpreted.

“You have the demand for two streams in the St. George's area and they can be accommodated at the East End Primary and St. George's Prep,” he said.

Parents are planning to appeal the Minister's decision and, if necessary, take the matter to court. Mr. Foggo was non-committal when asked what his next move would be.

“I don't know the next move as yet.”

Mr. Lister this week said that many of the parents who had chosen the school as their first preference had agreed to send their children elsewhere.

But that was immediately denied by parent Nick Duffy, who said that 26 parents were going ahead with an appeal against the Minister's decision, and that the Ministry had written a letter saying that accepting their second choice now was without prejudice to the pending appeal.

Yesterday, Chief Education officer Dr. Joseph Christopher said that his letter had specified that parents who had indicated a first preference for St. George's Prep would still have that option should the Minister change his mind.

And he insisted that many parents had accepted other offers, but could not say when.

“Parents had accepted offers that had been made to them. I do not recall exactly when they had made those decisions. I do know that we had contacted parents asking them what decision they were making,” he said.

Asked if he was surprised at the news that the appeals were going ahead, he said: “That's always an option. If they want to submit an appeal to their initial application, that's an option that everyone has.”