As many as 25 percent of educators could be without a licence for the new school year, according to the Bermuda Educators Council (BEC).

Private and public school teachers across the Island were given until August 31 to complete 40 professional development (PD) hours in order to have their licences renewed.

They were warned that if the requirement was not met they would be unable to teach when classes resume next week.

A BEC spokeswoman said yesterday: "The [BEC] can advise that as of Friday, August 27, 2010 approximately 75 percent of Bermuda's educators had successfully applied for their licensing renewal.

"[However] applications have been forthcoming consistently and increasing on a daily basis the closer the deadline came. However, as mentioned previously, the focus has been on working with the educators to ensure their applications were correct and complete. So while several have been determined to be successful, those may not have been entered into the system, which is where the accuracy will come from.

"The Council continues to partner with educators who are working to meeting the deadline and will be in a position to provide an update later this week."

Government did not comment yesterday on how many of its teachers had not met the requirements or how staffing might be affected when school resumes September 8.

Bermuda Union of Teachers' general secretary Mike Charles wasn't available for comment yesterday. The organisation has previously stated its members were upset with the requirement, describing 40 hours as "exorbitant".

However private schools on the Island contacted by this newspaper said their teachers were ready for classes to resume.

Saltus Grammar headmaster Ted Staunton said: "All of our teachers have completed [PD]. We're so pleased but we really made it a focus for last year. We're really pleased with the situation that we're in."

Maggie McCorkell, principal of Warwick Academy, said: "All the Warwick staff have completed their PD hours and all documentation has been completed with the [BEC] so we have no worries from that regard."

Bermuda High School principal Linda Parker said: "All of our teachers have successfully met the criteria for the BEC licensing renewal and completed the [PD] requirement."