Teachers are unlikely to be licensed in Bermuda for at least another two years, their union has announced.

Michael Charles, general secretary of the Bermuda Union of Teachers, said Government hopes of seeing all education staff licensed by September next year were unrealistic.

He said a committee formed to set official standards, decipher legislation, organise training, set exams and investigate similar schemes overseas could only work on the project on a part-time basis.

The members, who include himself, representatives from Bermuda College and officials from the Education Ministry, could only dedicate so much time as they each had jobs to hold down.

He said: "It's not something we are working on a daily basis because we each have so many other things to do with our everyday professions. If there was a full-time licensing team, or even one person, it would be easier.

"Coming up with a system to certify and license teachers is not easy and we want to ensure that we get it right.

"I think the Ministry was perhaps being a little bit too hopeful in thinking it would be in operation sooner, for example, September next year.

"It might happen by then, but realistically, I think it is more likely to be September, 2002.

He did not criticise Government, but instead said it was important for people to realise that such an issue, where exams, training facilities and standards for each individual subject had to be arranged, could not happen overnight.

Education Minister Milton Scott hoped to have an initial draft on the licensing scheme submitted to him by the end of June. It is now more likely to be delivered to Government at the end of the year.

Mr. Charles said he hoped to have a meeting with the Ministry next week, but said the draft plan was some way off.

Teachers and everybody involved in education, including Ministry staff, were to be licensed on a regular basis to make them more accountable to parents and children.

No definite plans have been decided yet, however Mr. Charles said he believed that present teachers would be licensed automatically.

But included in the certification is ongoing training and anyone who does not qualify for licence renewal may ultimately lose their jobs.

The idea, he said, was to weed out the poor educators and ensure that everyone on the Island was aiming to reach the same high standards.

The committee is studying similar projects in the US, Canada and Britain and plans to take the best aspects of each.

Mr. Charles added: "Some people have raised concerns about the licensing to us, but we have told them that it will just protect the profession.

"Nobody would think of employing a barrister or doctor without the proper licensing and examinations, and we feel teachers in Bermuda should be the same.'' Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith said: "It appears to be a matter of priorities.

"There is general support within the community for teacher licensing, and if the Minister made a commitment he should deliver.

"Perhaps one option would be to roll out the licensing programme in phases with primary teachers first. In this way we might have the confidence of parents and the business community that something is being done.'' Michael Charles