The Ministry of Education and Development has started an Island-wide search for alternative premises for one of its smaller pre-schools.

Smith?s Pre-School, which currently operates out of a private home in Smith?s Parish, is faced with a dilemma as its lease runs out at the end of the month.

A Ministry spokesperson yesterday said a notice had been advertised seeking a new premises for lease or purchase.

He said the Ministry?s preference was to purchase an alternative premises to avoid a recurrence of the problem.

He added that In the interim all other solutions will be considered.

Smith?s Pre-School is one of the smaller pre-schools in Bermuda with only 16 students. The Ministry of Education and Development is faced with a perennial problem as several of its 11 pre-schools operate out of leased premises.

?A resolution to this issue in the long term will ultimately involve purchasing properties,? the spokesperson said.