Construction of Berkeley Institute's state-of-the-art new senior school is set to begin next year -- three years behind the original schedule.

The Progressive Labour Party Government revealed this in their second Throne Speech since coming to power last November.

Delivering the speech during the reconvening of Parliament three days ago, Governor Thorold Masefield said: "Plans for a second senior school are being finalised and construction is scheduled to begin in the new year.'' Work on the school was originally slated to begin during the summer of 1997 and be completed by December 15, 2000.

But it has suffered several setbacks caused by delays in the former United Bermuda Party Government's decision on the number of senior schools, arbitration over the selection of applicants for top teaching posts, and overcrowding at CedarBridge Academy -- the Island's other senior school.

Berkeley admitted what was thought to be its last class of first-year students in September, 1996 in preparation for conversion to a new senior secondary school.

But its Board of Governors decided to take in 96 new students in September, 1998 to alleviate overcrowding at CedarBridge, and to review the basis upon which the new Berkeley design would proceed.

Talks over the fate of the current Berkeley buildings also slowed down work on the new school.

The Berkeley Educational Society, which owns the buildings, has been discussing the matter with Government for months.

But Board chairman Calvin White revealed that school officials have entered into an in principle agreement with Government to swap land on which the school now sits with the 7.42-acre Ridgeway site opposite the school on Berkeley Road in Pembroke.

Mr. White said: "As far as I know they are still trying to hit the (revised) 2002 completion date. But at the centennial banquet, two years ago, I said it would probably not be completed until September 2003.'' "We're still in negotiations in regard to resolving the concerns (about the current site),'' he added. "We've entered into an agreement in principle in swapping the land.

"We had our first meeting with Government concerning this last Thursday. I am optimistic that a mutual agreement will be reached. And we're hoping that construction will begin in the new year.'' However, Education Minister Milton Scott declined to give an expected completion date.

"We are moving ahead in that area as the Premier indicated,'' he said.

"Documents are being drawn up and the Berkeley Board of Governors has seen those plans.

"The Berkeley Educational Society are committed to having the new senior school. They have indicated in an agreement in principle to move ahead.

"I don't really want to give a time for completion,'' he added. "Often with projects such as this where one thing is held up, it creates another problem.

It is not something that we can really put a time frame on yet. Once we get the final plans and the work goes out to tender, we will be able to give a date of expected completion.'' EDUCATION ED