A licensing system for Island teachers moved one step closer to reality Wednesday despite attempts by United Bermuda Party Senators to scupper the bill.

The three Opposition Senators - Kim Swan, Neville Darrell and Rev. Leonard Santucci - were outvoted eight to three when they objected to the second reading of the Bermuda Educators Council Act 2002.

However, as only one Senator objected to the Third Reading, the Act passed the Upper House in the afternoon.

Introducing the Act, Government Senator Victoria Pearman said it components developed over 18 months of consultation with education stakeholders.

She said the Act allows for the establishment of a 15-member educators' council which will be provided with seed money of $50,000 per year by the Education Ministry, for a maximum of two years.

The inaugural council will be appointed by the Minister of Education and later councils will be elected by their peers, Sen. Pearman explained.

The council would be similar to bodies operating in Canada and the US, she added.

In order to qualify for employment at any institution with over four students, teachers will have to meet a number of licence requirements.

"All of those concerned have been taken on board," Sen. Pearman said of discussions with stakeholders and recent criticisms in the media.

The council will be "autonomous and self-governing" with the ultimate intent of improving education standards on the Island.

Sen. Pearman also pointed out there is room for exemptions to certain requirements at the discretion of the council, for example teachers in specialised areas such as art.

"The intention is not to prevent students from learning from others who have achieved excellence in their fields," she said.

Speaking first for the Opposition in the full-house session, Sen. Darrell said the UBP could not support the Act.

The Opposition in the Upper House followed the stance taken by their Parliamentary colleagues three weeks ago in opposing the act.

Sen. Darrell said the legislation simply creates another layer of bureaucracy in an already "bogged down" system.

"We discussed this matter thoroughly in caucus and concluded we cannot and will not support this bill," Sen. Darrell said.

Sen. Santucci added while the intent of the Act was progressive in nature, "there is a general disquiet in the community with regard to this piece of legislation".

He pointed out there is a teacher shortage and asked whether licensing will be required for substitute teachers.

Opposition Senator Kim Swan called for higher salaries for teachers and people can earn more money with less educational requirements in administrative positions.

As UBP Senators clung to their objections to the new Act, the debate turned a shouting match with senators accusing each other of politicking, having vacuous arguments and being in need of drug testing.

Senator Lt. Col. David Burch said establishing the council was not intended "to be the be all and end all" on education, just "part of the package".

And he said 23 newly qualified teachers under local teacher training vehicle were a testament to Government successes in education.

PLP Senator Calvin Smith said the Opposition Senators "should be subjected to random drug tests" given the quality of their objections to the legislation.

And, he added, while in power the UBP did nothing for education other than complain that black male Bermudians lacked the training for emerging international business jobs.

Independent Senators Walwyn Hughes, Jeannette Cannonier and Alf Oughton expressed some concerns about the content of the Act but voted for its passage along with Government.

Sen. Hughes said while he believed the bill to be a good one, he was disappointed that more content was devoted to disciplinary procedures than the plan for licensing.

And he questioned whether disciplinary hearings for teachers should be held in public when they might ruin careers and later prove to the spurious allegations.

Sen. Cannonier asked whether the new Code of Conduct for educators included in the bill would replace or complement the Standing Orders followed by all public servants.

Senate President Alf Oughton said he found the discussion of the educators council very interesting and he hoped the Senate would soon consider a similar proposal for a Health Council.