levelled against the government secondary school system by former Bermuda College president Dr. Archibald Hallett. Dr. Hallet's comments were made during his speech to the Hamilton Rotary Club on Tuesday.

In his address, Dr. Hallett claimed: "The school systems, and deficiencies of its graduates, is a problem that has not changed significantly during my 15 years at the College.'' He questioned the Minister's plan to restructure the school system, and referred to the Bermuda Secondary School Certificate as "meaningless''.

Just prior to his statement yesterday, Mr. Simons viewed a video tape of Dr.

Hallett's speech with Permanent Secretary for Education Dr. Marion Robinson and other high-ranking officials at the Ministry.

Mr. Simons took exception to Dr. Hallett's claim that the government secondary school system had not progressed. While admitting that he was not satisfied with the current level of local education, the Minister pointed out that most countries in the world are not happy with their education systems either, and like Bermuda, they are looking for ways to improve it.

"We realise that we need to do more, especially in mathematics,'' he said, referring to Dr. Hallett's assertion that high school graduates' mathematics skills were "appalling''.

"But in the past, at the secondary level, we were typically one or two years behind the United States. We have now caught up.'' Dr. Hallett's opinion that the Bermuda Secondary School Certificate was useless in assessing students' academic skills also drew fire from Mr. Simons.

"He has done a great disservice to the students and teachers when he smears the BSSC programme,''said Mr. Simons, "He devalues the achievements of the students.'' The certificate, he continued, was deliberately designed to serve the majority of the students -- not all of them. But he noted that students who consistently attain high grades receive their BSSC embossed with "With Honours'' to signify their ranking.

"Approximately 75 percent of Bermuda's students will get a BSSC,'' he said, "But the BSSC was never intended to guarantee entry into the College.'' Mr. Simons added that while the College is able to select its students, the government schools must take students of all levels.

Pointing out that the majority of the Bermuda College's students come from the government system, Mr. Simons said: "The College cannot take total credit for the success of students it has had for two to three years, without acknowledging the school system that had them for 12 years.'' On the subject of the educational restructuring plan, which Dr. Hallett also blasted, Mr. Simons pointed out that the Bermuda College itself was a product of restructuring -- namely the amalgamation of the Hotel and Catering College, Sixth Form Centre and Technical Institute in 1973.

"Restructuring is grown out of community needs and desires,'' explained Mr.

Simons, "And we are concerned with more than just buildings and facilities.'' Mr. Simons pointed out one of the 12 strategies listed on the Education Planning Team's final report summary: "We will establish a curriculum, with standards at every level, which will serve the whole range of student abilities and needs.'' The Minister admitted that the working relationship between the Department and Dr. Hallett had not been as concrete as it should have been during his tenure.

Referring to the new Bermuda College president, Mr. Simons said: "I hope to have better collaboration with Dr. (George) Cook.''