failed when a PLP motion calling for the plan to be rejected was defeated on Friday.

Shadow Education Minister Ms Jennifer Smith put forward the motion `That this House rejects Government's plans to move Dellwood Primary School to Berkeley Road, Pembroke, the Northlands School site''.

She said Government had been considering closing the Northlands site for some time and contended that a school site which was not acceptable in the past was not acceptable now.

Ms Smith said Dellwood also mainstreamed special needs children and Northlands was inaccessible for them. There will be no integration of special needs students if the Dellwood move goes ahead, she said.

"The parents of Dellwood have remained firm in their fight to get the best for their children and at every turn they have been met by intransigence,'' said Ms Smith.

Parents do not feel happy with provisions being made for children's transport and their safety.

"The Government will have to reassure parents that children will be safe travelling from their homes to Northlands.'' She added: "The parents have said that sending 300 children to a concrete jungle does not show any understanding for the children's needs.'' In response, former Education Minister Dr. Clarence Terceira (UBP) said he had met with Dellwood PTA about the move to Northlands, but then changes took place within the PTA and its attitude changed.

He said many alternatives were explored, but the decision was taken to proceed with the plan. He denied he had stopped talks with the PTA, saying it was that group which had pulled out of discussions.

Dr. Terceira added there were a lot of Dellwood students who lived as close to Northlands as they did Dellwood.

He put forward an amendment to Ms Smith's motion which replaced the word `reject' with `takes note of'. It was passed by 19 votes to 17.

The debate was allowed to continue after the vote and flared into a heated argument as Mr. David Allen (PLP) got up and accused the Goverment of "political bankruptcy''.

The Pembroke East Central MP also slammed the fact that Education Minister Jerome Dill did not answer the concerns raised by Ms. Smith when she spoke on her motion - before the vote was taken.

"The Goverment talks about `people, people, people,' but it is nonsense, nonsense, nonsense,'' said Mr. Allen. "If this Premier listens to the people, if this Minister of Education listens to the people, let him prove himself now.'' Mr. Dill then spoke and immediately refuted the idea the Government was not prepared to listen.

"The restructuring of education has as its goal the provision of first-class education. That is what the restructuring is all about,'' he said.

"The Government takes it one step further because we are committed to ensuring that every single student has access to a level and quality of education that is as least as good as the very best that the private system can offer.'' Government was committed to spending $120 million over the next four years on education and that improvements had already been carried out at Northlands.

He said also the Government would consider anything "within reason'' to improve Northlands further.

Dellwood was under-used and many Northlands students already used facilities at the primary school.

The Rev. Trevor Woolridge (PLP) also lambasted the Government and accused it of playing dirty tricks over the vote. "The UBP Government hoodwinked us and took the vote out of our hands.'' His theme was also raised by Mr. Stanley Morton (PLP), who claimed Dr.

Terceira had failed to give notification of his amendment before the vote.

"Usually any speaker will indicate to the House that he has a motion which he intends to put, but he did nothing of the kind. It is a clear indication of their (Goverment's) contempt for this country,'' said Mr. Morton.

Mr. Ottiwell Simmons (PLP) said: "For us to merely `take note' of this is an inadequate debate.

"We should give the children of Dellwood Primary School the opportunity of a good education in a good educational environment.

Opposition leader Mr. Frederick Wade said that Government was not following its own policy by "secretly conspiring to put motions down while the House is at supper''.

And he accused Mr. Dill of not having the courage to speak on the issue himself, but instead using the former Education Minister, Dr. Terceira .

"They (the Government) can now go to their constituents and say they didn't vote for it....they can now hide behind this amendment,'' said Mr. Wade.

Premier David Saul told the House that middle schools had been introduced amid concerns about the make-or-break 11 Plus exams, which took place when most children were coping with the problems of puberty.

And he added that four primary schools feeding into one secondary school on the Dellwood campus was the best option for the future.

He said: "Dellwood has got to be one of the best locations for a school there is and probably the best location there is for a middle school.

"All the primary schoolchildren in that central area can all go to one central campus which is right on the edge of the city of Hamilton.'' Dr. Saul -- a former teacher -- added that the Dellwood site offered space for young and growing teenagers to run around and use up their energies.

He said he had been a member of a very active school PTA and understood that parents and teachers do not want to risk changes to a system which was working well.

But he added: "We can assure the current parents -- and more importantly future parents -- that no matter where they come from, that while their children are going through this difficult time of puberty, they will benefit from this large campus with trees and wide open spaces and that it is ideal for their child.

"It's very nice to want to say you want to reject that particular plan, but there were very few alternative plans put forward.'' Dr. Saul challenged former members of the teaching profession to say they would not like to teach children on the Northlands site, earmarked for the current Dellwood School.

"It will be a site parents will be more than happy to send their five-year-old child to. Nobody should fear sending their primary school child to that site.

"And everybody in the central area should look forward to sending their middle school child to Dellwood. The plan is a sound one and nobody's education will be put in jeopardy as a result.''