A protest was staged outside Cabinet yesterday in a show of support for a popular music teacher at the heart of a school contract row.

As they left their weekly meeting, Ministers were greeted by parents and about 25 pupils from West End and Southampton Glebe primary schools. They voiced their anger at Government?s decision not to renew the contract of uncertified teacher Bim Bademosi. Protestors handed Acting Premier Ewart Brown a 400-name petition in a bid to secure Mr. Bademosi more time to get trained and stay at the public schools.

Dawn Simmons, West End Primary PTA president, said: ?We are joined by our family, friends and concerned citizens in our community to pull on the heart strings of Cabinet to work with the Ministry of Education to accept their role in Mr. Bademosi?s demise and find a compromise.? She added: ?Mr. Bademosi exemplifies the type of male you would want to keep in public education. He is a positive role model for our young people, especially young black males.

?We do not want to lose him from our education system.?

Dr. Brown told demonstrators that educational standards on the Island needed to be upheld, but he added that Mr. Bademosi would be getting more information on his position this week.

No further information was revealed, but protestors said they were hopeful the teacher would get his job back and the contract row would be defused.

Teachers without certification who are employed in the Island?s public schools system have three years from starting their employment to get the necessary qualifications.

The Bermuda Union of Teachers has already thrown its weight behind Mr. Bademosi. General Secretary Mike Charles has said it was trying to get the Ministry of Education to allow the teacher to carry on working while studying for certification.

Protestors yesterday said the union agreement on certification states it should be pursued, not obtained.

And they said the Ministry of Education made a mistake when it allowed the teacher to study a music education degree and post graduate diploma at a university in London for three years ? and never noticed he was on an unsuitable course for his classroom career.

They said meetings had been held with the Ministry but no progress seemed to be made, so the petition was presented to the Deputy Premier.

Parent Jennifer Darrell said: ?I have a child that attends Southampton Glebe. We are really glad with the work that he has done and we would like to see that work continue.?

Education Minister Terry Lister has defended the decision not to renew the contract.

In an earlier interview, he told : ?He was given three years to qualify as is the case with all teachers. His three years were up on August 31, 2005.

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