Government may re-open schools for special students, if a survey of their parents demands this.

Education Minister Milton Scott told The Royal Gazette the Progressive Labour Party Government was anxious to receive feedback from parents of such children who were integrated into regular primary and middle schools.

But he stressed that it had no intentions of disrupting the public school system which recently went through major reforms, including the closure of special schools and the integration of physically and mentally challenged students into regular schools and classrooms.

"The Premier and Ministers of Health and Social Services and Works and Engineering and Parks met with parents of special needs students this summer,'' Sen. Scott said.

"Some parents felt that the needs of their children were not being met under the inclusion system. Some of them were parents of multi-challenged children, that is those who had physical and mental challenges.

"We wanted to find out if they felt the needs of their children were being met and how we can effectively meet the needs of these children.'' Sen. Scott was speaking on the heels of the new Government's promise, in the Throne Speech, to survey parents of special needs students.

And he did not rule out the re-opening of some special schools.

"All options are on the table,'' he said. "But I don't want anything to have a disruptive effect on the students.

"We have already received feedback from the schools on inclusion. We now want to hear from the parents of special needs students.'' Bermuda Union of Teachers president Anthony Wolffe welcomed the news.

He said the inclusion of special needs students into regular schools, which began under the former United Bermuda Party Government, had placed "stress'' and "more of a burden'' on teachers.

"To this day teachers have not received training in this area,'' he added.