Education Minister Jerome Dill has moved to silence critics of his Ministry for not having the senior secondary school curriculum in place.

Mr. Dill said it was clear some people were still unaware that Government planned to introduce the new curriculum in September, 1999, not next year.

Therefore, he added, education officials had two full years to develop the new senior school curriculum before it will be implemented and the education of students under the current curriculum would not be disrupted.

"The Ministry has made a commitment to parents and to students that there will be no disruption to the secondary programme which the students have already started,'' Mr. Dill noted.

"This commitment is consistent with the practice which is followed by any academic institution which is making changes to its academic programme.

"Our commitment means that those students who have started the Bermuda Secondary School Certificate (BSSC) programme will complete it either at The Berkeley Institute or at Cedarbridge Academy.'' Mr. Dill further explained that since the last group of students to start the BSSC programme were those who started secondary school in September, they will complete the second year of the programme at their current schools next year.

Meanwhile all students -- except those at Berkeley -- who were expected to begin their third, fourth, and fifth year of high school next year will move to Cedarbridge Academy to complete the BSSC programme.

"It is in September 1999 that the new senior school curriculum will be introduced,'' Mr. Dill pointed out. "The students who are this year following the modified middle one programme will be the first students to participate in that new curriculum.

"... I believe parents and students understand this process very well. We have been holding meetings with them to ensure they are clear on the subject.

"I hope my comments will clear up any lingering misunderstanding on the part of members of the public.''