in the House of Assembly on Monday.

Education Minister Jerome Dill said Government was tackling concerns over safety, order and discipline at schools.

Mr. Dill, speaking during the Education Ministry budget debate, made his comments hours before unionised teachers voted to stage a protest at Warwick Secondary School yesterday morning.

Mr. Dill said the Ministry had responded to safety worries with a pilot scheme of security guards at Warwick Secondary, Whitney Institute and Northlands.

Other initiatives included peer mediation programmes and the Code of Conduct.

Mr. Dill said it was important to bear in mind violence was a community problem, not one specific to schools.

Opposition Leader and Shadow Education Minister Jennifer Smith said teachers were under pressure and feeling vulnerable.

"We cannot pay our teachers enough for what they do,'' she said.

Earlier, Mr. Dill said Government's $3.8 million capital grant to the Bermuda College is evidence of Government's commitment to higher learning, according to Education Minister Jerome Dill .

He told the House of Assembly of Monday that more than 2,950 students had registered on a part-time basis last year, compared to 2,684 in 1994-95.

Speaking during the budget debate on the Education Ministry, he said one of the most important commitments was around $400,000 to fund the "incredibly significant'' Best Steps programme.

He agreed much had been said about young black Bermudian men lacking skills to enable them to compete.

But he said the Best Steps scheme -- which allowed for up to 60 students at a time -- was a way of ensuring this group was equipped to face the future.

He added: "For a relatively small sum of money, we have been able to set up a programme at Bermuda College which can focus on upgrading the skills of our young people and preparing them for the workplace.'' And Mr. Dill added that the College was moving closer to self-sufficiency, with Government support down in terms of proportion of the total budget.

He added that a "modest'' fee increase of the current $40 a credit charge to $45 was also helping to generate more revenue at the College.

Turning to CedarBridge Academy, he said the senior secondary school's facilities would be excellent and include language laboratories, a library media centre and well-equipped computer laboratories.

The aim was to have four students to one computer in recognition of the information technology age.

Mr. Dill said technology would be infused in the curriculum. There would be emphasis on information technology, business studies and design and technology.

He added the Ministry had decided to introduce the Reading Recovery Programme, which was designed to reduce the number of children with literacy problems.

"It is a very effective early intervention programme,'' he said.

Ms Smith , under time constraints because of the length of Mr. Dill's presentation, said she would try to be positive in her speech, pointing out there was much to be proud of.

Bermuda's students had excelled in many areas, including the national debating contest which the Island recently hosted.

Ms Smith, however, voiced concern over a 17-year-old former Berkeley Institute student, who got into trouble trying to hold up a visitor and was subsequently arrested.

She said the teenager had dropped out of Berkeley at 15.

This was an example of the loss of one of Bermuda's resources.

Ms Smith said the concept of the "burly'' truancy officer -- which Mr. Dill had derided in his presentation -- could prove a help in such a case.

She said today's youngsters still needed the personal touch, even in a computer age.

"They need to have someone show they are needed.'' She added: "I do not think computers can take the place of persons. I think students need a physical presence.'' Ms Smith asked why the Education Audit had been sent back for editing, and called for monitoring of students receiving education at home.

She also expressed concern at young people in jail, saying adequate and appropriate classes should be provided for them.

Ms Smith went on to take Government to task over the appointment of school boards.

She asked what was being done in this area, pointing out the Progressive Labour Party had argued that boards should be elected.

"I am concerned that when boards are appointed they will be just paper tigers,'' she said. "My hope is that the new boards will not be just window dressing.'' Turning to further education, Ms Smith warned how the job market would be swollen by youngsters who were not college bound.

"It is very important for this Country to make sure we send as many of our young people as can into further education.'' Ms Smith said the Reading Recovery Programme had to be good because of the amount of money it cost.

But she demanded to know when the programme was launched and how well it had worked.

Moving on to computers, she said she supported moves to keep youngsters abreast of modern technology.

However, she said Government should be aware of concerns raised in the House of Commons about computers.

Ms Smith then touched on school zoning, fearing problems could be in the pipeline.

She said expressed concerns about children living on the borders between zones being unable to attend a school near to them.

On the enrichment programme, Ms Smith wondered how successful it had been.

"There should be some measurable results,'' she said.

And on in-service training, she said Bermuda Union of Teachers president Michael Charles had been quoted in The Royal Gazette as saying some of the training for restructuring was a waste of time and money.

That was a serious charge to be made, and Government should respond to it, said Ms Smith.