yesterday to protest Government's "illogical, irrational'' school restructuring programme.

Led by National PTA president Mr. Ross Smith, they demanded that the Ministry of Education abandon its plans to build a megaschool in Prospect and revamp the Island's school system in general.

"I would like the Government to respect the people's wishes on this matter,'' Mr. Smith told The Royal Gazette .

He later proclaimed to the placard-waving crowd: "We have a good education system. We want to see it restored and improved upon.'' Chief among the protesters' concerns, Mr. Smith said, was the actual size of the Prospect school, which is scheduled to open in 1997.

He said students would get lost in the shuffle of a larger facility and that teachers who are already "fearful for their safety'' would become even more apprehensive.

"How can you manage a large school if you can't even make the smaller ones secure?'' Mr. Smith asked. "Are you going to have Police patrolling the campus? Put metal detectors in at the doors? No-one has answered these questions.'' During the protest, several MPs came out of the House to hear the protestors' misgivings and accept a letter of concern.

At the same time, they made it abundantly clear to the crowd that they would not be changing their minds on the issue.

"It is with regret that you have chosen to protest at this late date,'' Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan said. "I just hope that we can eventually come together on the matter.'' Education Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira added: "Change is never easy, but Government has to govern. You will have the very best education system in the world when we restructure. I guarantee it.'' Many protestors, however, did not seem convinced, jeering at the comments by Government officials and cheering for those of Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade.

"As a former teacher,'' the MP told the assembly, "I know the damage that can be done to students in a very large class. I also know about very large schools and the problems that are associated with size.'' Mr. Wade, who was joined by at least five of his Opposition colleagues, urged the protestors to keep on fighting against the Prospect school.

One woman had earlier told The Gazette that parents were willing to take their opposition "to the very end''.

But in the House of Assembly yesterday, Dr. Terceira said there would be no turning back on the reform plans.

And despite Mr. Wade's urging to the NPTA, Shadow Education Minister Ms Jennifer Smith told MPs that the Progressive Labour Party had given up fighting the so-called mega-school and was now working to ensure "we can get the best we can get'' out of what was planned.

Debate -- Page 4