at Prospect yesterday defended its makeup.

The board -- whose members were revealed last month by Education Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira -- has come under close scrutiny.

Chairman of the Bermuda Technical Institute Association Mr. delMonte Davis has called the board's make-up "very narrow''.

He expressed surprise that the BTIA had not been approached about having a representative on the board.

And Shadow Education Minister Ms Jennifer Smith said the board's make-up should have reflected the community and the senior secondary school.

Ms Smith also warned that the board would carry no validity with the public if members had no children in public high schools.

But chairman of the board, Bermuda Electric Light Company president Mr. Garry Madeiros, said: "Every person that has agreed to become a member of this board has one goal in mind, that is to make this school a success.'' Education reform was the most important issue in Bermuda with the exception of the upcoming Independence referendum, he added.

"We must ensure that this (education reform) succeeds.'' While Mr. Madeiros said his children -- one is at university and the other at Mount St. Agnes -- will not be affected by restructuring, he noted that "a number of the board's members were educated in public schools and a number of them taught in the system''.

When asked if any of the board members were parents or will have children in the restructured system, Mr. Madeiros said: "I have no idea.'' However, he quickly added that the senior secondary school was two years away from becoming a reality. And he said: "A lot has to be done between now and then.

"Concerns about the makeup of the board would be more relative when a formal board is appointed and when the board is in place.

"But right now we're talking about establishing the infrastructure, and finding the right principal and staff.''