The Education Department has denied it is looking for kindergarten to grade 12 teachers overseas.

Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper last Saturday ran an advertisement of an overseas teachers job fair which will take place in Ontario between June 21 and 23 and June 25 and 27.

"Dozens of vacancies K-12 in Monaco, Canary Isles, French Riviera, Kenya, New Zealand, Aruba, Greece, Egypt, Australia, Bermuda and more,'' the advertisement stated.

"Open to all teachers with credentials, must enjoy travelling and children.

Linguist diversity an asset. Tax free US salaries, housing and transport paid for.'' The advertisement advised interested applicants to send $25 and an eight-by-eleven-inch stamped envelope for complete employment packages, including dates, the names of schools, and contacts, to a Thornhill, Ontario address.

The Education Minister, which declared all teaching posts vacant last year as part of its restructuring plans, still has to place several Bermudian teachers.

But senior manager of the Education Department's human resources Raymond Latter told The Royal Gazette he knew nothing about the advertisement and the department was nearing the end of its recruitment process for the new school year.

"We went up to a hiring fair in Ontario in February,'' he said. "I guess they got our name from there. But I know nothing about it. We are basically at the end of our recruitment.'' Mr. Latter said the department was "very close'' to having all Bermudian teachers placed in the system.

"We are in the single digits,'' he said of the number left to be placed.

And although there were several posts left to be filled in primary schools, Mr. Latter explained that some spouses of Bermudians will not be employed in the new school year because there were "a number of Bermudians who had come back and had to be given preference''.

However, he added, the department was looking for a physics teacher for the senior secondary level, an occupational therapist, and at least five special education teachers.

"We've placed a number of locals already,'' Mr. Latter said, "but we still have specialists post available.'' The department was scheduled to send off advertisements this week to education journals in the US, he added.