A school teacher accused of committing sexual offences against 15 young girls will have to wait a little longer for his trial.

And, depending on the outcome of pre-trial manoeuvrings, he could face several trials.

Elizabeth Christopher, representing the man, yesterday told Acting Chief Justice Norma Wade Miller that she intended to apply for the 16 counts to be tried separately.

The man was originally charged with 17 sexual offences -- five for indecent assault and 12 for sexual exploitation of a young person -- all relating to his role as a teacher in a public primary school and a church summer camp. One charge of indecent assault has been dropped.

At the Supreme Court arraignment yesterday, 16 charges were read out as one indictment against the Smith's Parish man who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The charges relate to different alleged incidents which the Crown says occurred between 1976 and 1999.

No plea was taken as Ms Christopher told the Mrs. Justice Wade Miller that she wanted to apply to sever the indictment and that a proper discovery -- meaning the disclosure of all relevant information -- had not yet been made.

The matter will resume on May 1 when Ms Christopher will make her application to sever the indictment. If the application is successful it will mean more than one trial for the man -- but not necessarily one for each count.

The accused first appeared before Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner last October. He was released from Supreme Court yesterday on $3,000 bail with one surety.