the Island for their campaign against proposed $2.2 million education cuts.

At a meeting in Paget last night, association members blasted cuts which Education Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons claims are necessary in today's economy.

But the association is preparing a petition and considering a mass march of parents, teachers and schoolchildren on Parliament against the cuts.

Members voted to oppose any cuts in the education budget and are seeking information about an education bond scheme.

At last night's meeting, at the Peace Lutherian Church, president Mrs. Marian Askia said: "We have been promised all kinds of things by the Education Department. We were promised the money was there. They are now telling us that they have to cut $2 million from the budget.'' She said it would mean cuts in basics like books, paper, pencils, toilet paper and cleaning materials.

She said: "It seems that we have money for the incinerator and the prison but not our children. Are we making sure that there is a prison for our children? We could cut out that need by educating our children now.'' Mrs. Askia will demand that Mr. Simons begins to give the PTA information rather than holding "Saturday morning soirees''.

NLP public relations officer Mrs. Cheryl Pooley suggested a march and members agreed to take the matter back to their own PTAs to discuss before Parliament re-opens in February. Mrs. Askia said: "When you make a lot of noise people listen. What we want is the parents and the children out there saying: `I am worthwhile. I am important. I count. I am the future.' Make sure they know we will not put up with the cuts.''