But parents' wishes to have the school upgraded to include cabling for computer networks will not be met.

The main block of the Smith's Parish school was gutted by fire in February.

Three teenagers were arrested in connection with the blaze, but have yet to be charged in court.

Government has accepted the option of having the insurers undertake the restoration and Centurion Insurance presented the plans to the Education and Works and Engineering Ministers on May 12.

And in a joint statement recently released, Education Minister Milton Scott said: "We are very much aware of the concern of parents that the school should be ready to open at the beginning of the new school year and we intend to work toward that goal.

"My colleague, the Minister of Works and Engineering, understands that the date for me is September 15.'' But he added that experience had shown it was often difficult to maintain an exact date for the end of construction -- particularly when an old building is being restored.

Sen. Scott said: "There are unanticipated conditions which come to light when renovations begin which may result in delay.'' At a meeting with parents on May 13, the issue of modernising the school to include cabling was raised.

Sen. Scott told them any change to the plans could delay the opening and added that the insurers could not be expected to pay the cost of the upgrading.

A review of the plans with facilities coordinator Bob Winter indicated that the conduits for the telephone lines could be enlarged to accommodate the cabling to allow school computerisation.

Parents received an update from the two Ministers on May 19 when Sen. Scott said: "We would like to respond to the wish of parents to include the entire infrastructure for computerisation. However we are also bound by certain constraints if we are to get the school opened in September.''