The ruins of Harrington Sound Primary School may not be rebuilt in time for the next academic year.

The school was gutted by fire in an arson attack last month.

Now furious parents say rebuilding work is facing long delays because of squabbles between insurers and Government officials.

They believe their children could pay the real-life cost of the $1 million insurance claim -- and stay in temporary classrooms well into next year.

Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott and Chief Education Officer Dr.

Joseph Christopher both hinted the project could be delayed last night.

But one Harrington Sound parent claimed Dr. Christopher told members of the school's parent teacher association last week that the rebuilding would definitely not be ready by September.

Ana Dawson said: "He told us that the new buildings would not be ready in time for the new school year.

"The meeting was at the auditorium at Devon Lane School last Tuesday and there were between 50 and 70 parents there, plus the PTA executive body.'' Dr. Christopher immediately refuted the claim when contacted by The Royal Gazette last night.

He said: "I didn't tell them that. One person made that claim...I didn't make that statement.

"I do not know at this point in time whether the school will be ready by September or not.

"Works and Engineering is still continuing discussions with the insurer and I cannot give any further comment than that.'' Mr. Scott confirmed talks were on-going with insurance executives at Centurion.

But he said no time-limit had been set for the massive project to rebuild the 51-year-old school.

"The parents seem to have come to a conclusion that we haven't necessarily come to in Government,'' he added. "They may prove to be right, they may prove to be wrong.

"But I don't think any parent would want the whole project rushed along so that we put aside the notion of safety or didn't upgrade the facility to provide more amenities.

Uproar over revamp `delay' "I hope the parents aren't just preoccupied with the date of September and not mindful of the opportunity to actually put back a full service school.

"In any event, I'm not sure that the school will not be ready by September.'' Students in years P1 to P3 are using the Harrington Sound infants building until the entire school is ready to re-open.

But older children in years P4 to P6 have been forced into cramped rooms at the abandoned Devon Lane school in Pembroke.

Mrs. Dawson, in a letter to the Editor, wrote: "Let everyone notice that nothing is being done to rebuild our school.

"The Ministry of Education, Works and Engineering and the insurance company are dragging their feet with red tape and political posturing. Enough is enough.

"To be told at a recent PTA by a Ministry representative that the new school will not be ready by September, because of continuing discussions between Works and Engineering and the insurance company, is totally unacceptable and insulting.

"The children are traumatised and deserve better. Teachers and parents are completely frustrated with the lack of action. Our school is in crisis and no-one seems to care.'' Three Saltus Grammar School pupils, all aged 14 and from Smith's Parish, were arrested in connection with the fire and are due to appear before the juvenile court.