first time this weekend.

Dr. Terceira, who took over the education portfolio from now Environment Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons last month, said he will mainly be listening to parents' concerns when they gather at Stonington on Saturday.

The meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., is not expected to be as controversial as several with Mr. Simons have been in the past.

National PTA president Mrs. Marian Askia said parents mainly want a guarantee that secondary schools will be equal by September and they want the process of transferring students to high school made clear.

While several educators, including Chief Education Officer Mr. Dean Furbert, have assured parents secondary schools will be equal, Mrs. Askia said parents wanted to continue getting assurance so those who make such promises will be accountable.

She also revealed that some parents were still upset about the way their children were allocated to high schools for September.

There was "a lot of confusion'' when the Education Department first sent out forms to parents about sending their children to neighbourhood high schools, Mrs. Askia said.

And, she said, when the second (transfer explanation) form was sent out after parents questioned what would happen to their children if they did not get into Berkeley Institute or Warwick Academy, there was confusion as to which form was valid and which superseded which.

Now, Mrs. Askia said, there were complaints that some children were placed in schools too far away from home.

But based on an earlier meeting with Dr. Terceira, she was hopeful that parents' concerns will be addressed.

"The meeting we (National PTA executive) had with him over a week ago was positive,'' Mrs. Askia said. "And he assured us that he would be happy to continue meeting with parents.'' She said the executive let Dr. Terceira know where it stood and that it was willing to work with the Education Department.

Dr. Terceira this week sent a letter to parents, stating the reason for Saturday's meeting was to continue contact with parents and to keep them informed about restructuring.

OFFICIAL VISIT -- Education Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira yesterday toured the Bermuda College's Stonington campus for the first time in his new post. Pictured standing in front of the college's Faculty Centre, which is scheduled to be opened in September, are from left college president Dr.

George Cooke, deputy chairman of the college's board of governors Mr. Kim White, Education Permanent Secretary Dr. Marion Robinson, chairman of the college's board of governors Lt. Col. Michael Darling, and Dr. Terceira.