Union leader Mike Charles has voiced disappointment at Government's failure to allocate cash to launch the proposed teacher licensing scheme.

General Secretary of the Bermuda Union of Teachers, Mr. Charles said he had hoped Bermuda College would be given funding to get the licensing project off the ground.

The Royal Gazette reported some weeks ago that Mr. Charles estimated Government would need to invest an initial $250,000 in the scheme to pay for overseas experts to come and help launch the programme.

And he also advised somebody be employed solely to put the project together.

However, when Premier Jennifer Smith revealed in the House of Assembly on Monday how the $91 million education budget would be spent this year, there was no mention of teacher licensing.

This is despite an optimistic aim by Education Minister Senator Milton Scott to launch the scheme, which will see every teacher officially licensed, by September this year.

Mr. Charles, who has been working on the project with Dr. Gina Tucker from Bermuda College for several months, said the plans would not move forward without cash.

He said yesterday: "The Government has allocated $150,000 to the College for certification, but that is not the same thing as licensing.

"People keep getting these two things confused. Certification is what a teacher gets from a teacher training college, or where-ver, that says they are certified to teach.

"Licensing is what the state requires for people to teach in that country state, or island, as in Bermuda.

"It is the certification that has been given funding, not the licensing.'' But he said he was eager to see the licensing of teachers introduced in Bermuda to ensure that all teachers on the Island were on a level playing field and were capable.

He added: "We have people coming to Bermuda who did not attend the best of schools and colleges, but are certified.

"We need some kind of yard stick to judge all teachers so we know our children are getting the best. The licensing scheme will mean teachers have to reach certain standards before they can teach in Bermuda.

"If we do not have the money, I guess it will be delayed.'' But he said he hoped the certification cash given to the College was used to provide certification programmes, as some teachers have degrees, but are not certified.

And Mr. Charles said he was quite pleased with the budget for education. He said Government seemed to be moving in the right direction, particularly with class reduction and increasing computers in schools.