its bid to calm anger over school cuts.

She claimed its letter to Parent Teachers Associations was unlikely to satisfy parents.

And she rapped Government for not finding cash for text books.

"Parents are the ones who have to provide the funds,'' she said.

Last week's three-page letter was signed by the Premier and the Education and Finance Ministers.

It is seen as a Government answer to the march on Parliament by teachers, parents and students protesting education cuts.

"The children of Bermuda are, and must always be, out first priority,'' the letter stated.

It said cutting the Education Ministry's spending would not jeopardise classroom standards.

And it stressed no teachers would be fired, with cuts coming through retirements, resignations, and non-renewal of contracts.

The letter also said Government would be speeding up work on school buildings critical to education reform.

Yesterday Ms Smith said parents would be seeking more "tangible'' assurances from Government.

Referring to the protest march she added: "I don't think that having expressed in so visible a manner their strength of commitment to their children's education they will be satisfied with more words on paper.'' Ms Smith was puzzled by Government's continual claim schools had enough text books.

This conflicted with claims by students during the Island's first Youth Summit last month at Fort Hamilton.

"I find it strange that Government will stick by its guns while those people who should know what is going on say this is not so.'' Ms Smith continued: "It is not for me to say whether or not I have confidence in Government's word.

"I only look at what they have done in the past.'' Ms Smith said there were no funds in the Budget for the next Bermuda College building.

"In addition to which college funds were cut,'' she added.

Ms Smith pointed out there was a "ten-year pause'' before before any construction at Stonington.

"I have yet to see the completion of a project by the Government, particularly in education.

"Of course, there is the incinerator and the prison, but these are not related to education.''