Students will be able to graduate this year despite classroom disruptions caused by a teachers' strike last month.

Government schools teachers took industrial action after months of failed pay talks and as a result of the action this year's planned Terra Nova exams for middle school students had to be scrapped.

But yesterday a Government spokesman confirmed that the exam "has no direct bearing on graduation requirements for students".

However, the cancellation of the Terra Nova exams does mean that Bermudian public school students will not be able to compare their performance to that of their US counterparts. The Terra Nova is a standardised measure to compare the Bermuda Public School system with its North American counterparts.

In yesterday's Press release sent out from Government's Department of Communication and Information the spokesman stated that all senior school students would take their final exams in accordance "with the standard procedures that have been in operation since the inception of the BSC".

Students who spoke to The Royal Gazette last month said they supported the industrial action but were worried about having to attend classes in the summer to make up for lost time.

Students at Berkeley Institute also expressed fears over exam dates and whether they would be able to complete them on time.

Some senior school students will complete the GCSE examinations in Mathematics, Spanish, and Physical Education this year.

In 2005 the Ministry of Education will expand to English, Business Studies, Drama, Design and Technology, and Family Studies and Art. In 2006 there will be a further expansion to Science, history, geography, and music.

Teachers ended their work to rule at the end of May after accepting a deal of 4.1 percent for September 2003 to 2004, 3.4 percent from September this year and three percent for the following year.