Changing Government's education reform plans will sound the political death knell for the new Premier, former Education Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira has warned.

And although Dr. Terceira is not sure whether he will retain his portfolio or any Cabinet post under Premier the Hon. David Saul, he told The Royal Gazette "there's no turning back'' on Government's restructuring plans.

"I can't see them going back on something that is underway,'' he said.

"How do you turn around from the work of 180 Bermudians who served on the Education Planning Team, hundreds of teachers who have trained (for the new education system), and all the designs?'' Noting businessman Mr. Eldon Trimingham's recent comments about more people flocking to private schools, Dr. Terceira said: "That is absolute idiocy. He hasn't a clue about education.

"The name of the game is providing the best education for Bermudians. I'm absolutely committed to that. And I know what we're doing is right.'' He stressed that the senior secondary school slated to be completed at Prospect in 1997 "will be a showcase for the world''.

"I believe it will compete so much with the private sector, that we will see some private schools going under because people are not going to pay out all that money when they can get the same quality of education for free,'' Dr.

Terceira said.

And he strenuously denied rumours that Government will divide the $40-million-plus school into three separate schools -- one technical, one business, and one academic.

"That is not on,'' Dr. Terceira said. "It (the senior secondary school) has to be a combined, cooperative, and coordinated school in order for it to work.

"That idea is so ridiculous, it is laughable. This is an example of what people like Mr. Trimingham and The Royal Gazette Editor will come up with.'' While Dr. Terceira declined to say whether he thought it was wise for the new Premier to change the Education Minister in the midst of major education reform, he said: "If there is a real change in the course (of educational reform), the Principals Association of Bermuda will be up in arms, teachers will be up in arms, 180 people in the EPT will be up in arms, and the rest of the people of Bermuda should be up in arms.

Don't abandon `restructuring' "It (restructuring) should not be abandoned in any way, shape or form. If the Premier does that, it would be his political death knell.'' Dr. Terceira stressed that restructuring was well underway.

He noted that the Education Ministry had already gathered feedback on it from all public school teachers, including where they would like to be placed. And he said work on the senior secondary school at Prospect was progressing on schedule.

"We will make it a first class facility,'' Dr. Terceira said, adding that Berkeley Institute -- the other school slated to teach senior secondary level courses -- would also be a state-of-the-art school.

Pointing out that he was no stranger to public ridicule, Dr. Terceira recalled the opposition he initially faced to the East Broadway road-widening plan, the new prison, and the incinerator when he was Works and Engineering Minister.

But all were now up and running, he added. And there have been no complaints about East Broadway.

"So I've been through all these scenarios before,'' Dr. Terceira said. "You have to take a lot of flak. But you have to go on with what you know is right.'' Asked whether he had accomplished as much as he would like at this juncture as Education Minister, he said: "There are so many things in the pipeline. I would love to see them completed.'' Behavioural problems among students in school was one issue in particular Dr.

Terceira said he would like to see solved.

And he said while alternative education will still be pursued, unruly students will not be placed at the former Woodlands School on Mount Hill, Pembroke in September as planned.

"Principals of schools have said we agree with what you're doing, but we would like to have a go at behaviour management in schools,'' Dr. Terceira said.

"They've agreed that there are going to be one or two (students with behavioural problems) in the senior school that will have to be taken out. But they think they now can deal with behavioural problems within that school environment.'' In the meantime, he said, Government was looking at other locations where it can set up an alternative school.

But he stressed that wherever the location, the school "should be positive, not punitive''.