Teachers will begin work in the new public school system without a contract, The Royal Gazette has learned.

But the issue will not be on the agenda today when the Bermuda Union of Teachers meets with Chief Education Officer Joseph Christopher.

BUT president Michael Charles last night said the union will use the opportunity to settle a list of concerns.

Topping that list, he said, was the length of the school day.

Several middle school teachers have told the union they will be required to work beyond 3.30 p.m. due to the structure of the new programme, Mr. Charles noted.

And while this has been denied by Education Minister Jerome Dill, Mr. Charles said the issue needed to be clarified.

Violence in schools and whether the facilities will be suitable for occupation from next week were other issues to be addressed.

Mr. Dill earlier this week announced that Dellwood Middle School will open two weeks behind schedule due to renovations. But he said he expected other middle schools and CedarBridge Academy to open on September 8 and 15, respectively, as scheduled. Story: Page 2 However, the union has called for the schools to be inspected prior to those dates. And Mr. Dill said he had no objection to that.

Yesterday, Mr. Charles said he hoped the Education Ministry would stick to its word.

He added that while teachers were working without a collective agreement, which expired last Sunday, the issues to be discussed today were more pressing.