activities.

It described the move -- which sparked industrial action last week -- as a "sound, sensible, and necessary'' money-saver.

And it stressed it had discussed the proposed cuts at length with the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT).

That consultation dated back to December, 1992, the Education Ministry declared yesterday.

Government's position was even vindicated by a board of inquiry, it added.

And it firmly scotched any suggestion it had acted "unilaterally and suddenly''.

"The Ministry's position has always been that it did not wish to take any action which might jeopardise the employment of teachers through lay-off or redundancies, or which might jeopardise the instructional programme of Bermuda's young people.'' Education chiefs said there were four reasons to pick on the "honoraria'' programme -- teachers' work outside normal duties.

It does not involve all or even most teachers, but mainly those who teach physical education; It is not essential in protecting teachers' jobs; It is "non-essential overtime'' -- something which has been cut from other Government departments; and It does not involve an essential part of students' education.

Last week teachers started a work-to-rule with the beginning of the new school year.

BUT head Sen. Milton Scott (PLP) announced primary and secondary public school teachers would not be supervising extra-curricular activities this term.

And he warned action could "escalate even further'' if the pay for teaching such activities was not reinstated.

"We could withdraw from other voluntary activities,'' he said.

Yesterday the Education Ministry said the need for savings had been prompted by the recession.

It pointed out the union had filed a grievance against the Ministry last May.

An independent arbitrator was appointed to settle the dispute.

"This appointment was made with the agreement of both sides, and with the agreement of both sides that they would be bound by the arbitrator's finding.

"The arbitrator, in effect, found in Government's favour. His ruling read, in part, honoraria, as a condition of employment, were unilaterally withdrawn but effected after proper consultation.

"In the light of the long history of discussion between the two sides over this matter, and of the BUT's agreement to be bound by the arbitrator, the position Senator Scott is reported to have taken is difficult to understand, to say the least.'' Education chiefs added: "The Ministry believes it has been able to achieve savings asked of it by Government in a sensible manner, without either jeopardising jobs, or jeopardising students' education.

"There is a necessity for savings and a great deal of effort has been put to finding ways of sparing the teaching staff from serious financial injury.

"This present dispute is disappointing.''