Plans to launch the Island's first ever teacher training course have received a mixed reaction.

The Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) said the part-time training programme was a good idea in principle, but it would need further information before it could endorse it.

President Michael Charles said he wanted to know which overseas college the Ministry of Education was teaming up with to offer the year-long course on the Island.

And he asked whether the course would qualify people to teach overseas, or just in Bermuda.

Until that was clear, he said, anyone interested in becoming a teacher should ensure they have all their questions answered before they sign up.

And Shadow Education Minister Tim Smith said he believed the course was destined to fail because problems in the teaching profession, such as low morale, were still not being addressed.

Mr. Charles said: "I certainly think it is a good idea because there are a number of people on the Island with Bachelor's degrees who would like to teach but are unable to go overseas to train.

"The only fear I have is who is going to be doing the certification and what kind of reputation do they have? "I think it is very important to make sure that teachers have a qualification that is recognised overseas and is worth something.

"Is this certificate just going to qualify them to work in Bermuda? I hope not.

"The Union needs more information before we can endorse something like this, but it does sound like a good thing in theory.'' The Royal Gazette revealed Government's plans to launch the teacher training programme on Monday.

Education Minister Sen. Milton Scott said he hoped people unable or unwilling to leave the Island for teacher training would take advantage of the opportunity.

And he said the additional educators would be extremely valuable at a time when Bermuda was suffering ongoing problems with teacher shortages.

He refused to name the overseas college taking part, but said it was "prestigious'' and well known for its teacher training abilities.

There are 30 spaces on the course, and applicants should have a good secondary school education and a Bachelors Degree.

But whether it is a one-off course, or the start of many, has not yet been revealed.

Mr. Charles said he hoped Sen. Scott, who is a former leader of the BUT, had chosen very carefully which overseas college to partner with before announcing the scheme.

He said: "Those of us in education know of some teaching institutions overseas that are not so reputable and that we would stay away from.

"I am hoping that the Ministry has chosen very carefully.'' Mr. Smith said he believed Government would have to do a great deal more to boost the number of teachers on the Island, besides launching a training programme.

He said until the profession was made more attractive, people would choose different careers.

Mr. Smith said: "The offer of a part-time teacher training course is both desperate and misguided.

"It is the typical `quick fix, let's spend some money somewhere' type of solution. It has all the appearances of form over substance.

"Clearly, the Progressive Labour Party's education policies are failing and that's why Bermudians are not entering the profession.

"The Minister should be asking the fundamental question: Why are Bermudians not selecting education as a career? "When he answers that question honestly, he will have to concede that offering a part-time teacher training course is not the solution.'' And he said until teachers were paid more, had the chance of merit awards and were empowered by Government, there would continue to be shortages.

He added: "Instead of promoting a full-time programme and raising the bar for recruits, he offers a mere part-time course. No other profession offers a part-time studies programme.'' Last night Sen. Scott said he was surprised by Mr. Smith's comments.

"How can he call a long-term investment in Bermuda's teaching profession misguided? "I don't think the many would-be teachers who have expressed an interest in the course will appreciate his dismissive remarks, particularly since his knowledge of the course is based on nothing more than a newspaper report.'' He said the Ministry was still in negotiation with the overseas college on the recognition of the qualification abroad.

He added: "Teachers will have the option of transferring the credits from the certification programme into a master's degree programme. I think this is a worthwhile outcome, even if Mr. Smith does not.'' Michael Charles