The Minister of Education has called for an inquiry into teachers' missing paycheques and those educators that had been shortchanged.

Yesterday morning 800 teachers from various public schools left their classrooms around 10 to hold a meeting at Devonshire Rec with the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT). This left many parents concerned and disgruntled as some students were sent home, while those that remained at school could not continue with regular classes until the afternoon.

The teachers however met because they had not received the 5 percent increase for 2008-9 as stipulated in the Arbitration Award of August 2007, while some did not receive their September pay cheque. After the morning meeting, the Ministry and Union members met to discuss options to ensure the payments were rectified in a timely fashion.

In a press conference following this, Education Minister Randy Horton, said the payment issues affected about two dozen teachers and an inquiry was launched.

"I would like, on behalf of the Ministry Administration, to apologise to all of our teachers who were not paid as they should have been yesterday and to all the parents and students who were inconvenienced today," he said.

"As you are all aware, the responsibility for payments to all our teachers rests within the Ministry Administration. Therefore, the lack of payments to the teachers is unacceptable. I am also not happy that the BUT held a meeting during regularly school hours.

I want to thank the principals and support staff responsible for the Island's

"Along with the Premier, I met with the BUT and they expressed their concerns about payments. I have asked the head of civil service to commence a full inquiry into why the payments were not made in a view to eliminating any recurren

"I am really incensed that this happened and we are having an inquiry that it doesn't happen again and where appropriate there will be consequences."

Yesterday the Minister also said he believed that all teachers who had not been paid at all, had received their cheques except for about two and they were in contact with the Union about this

During the meeting with Ministry officials the Union also discussed deadlines and according to one teacher the Ministry has until Friday to rectify the five percent increase stipulated in the arbitration award.

Mike Charles, the BUTgeneral secretary said the lack of co-ordination on the payments showed a lack of respect and he would not rule-out possible industrial action.

"Teachers feel this is a total lack of respect. They have worked for an entire month and the Ministry of Education hasn't even given an explanation as to why this is happening. The teachers have given us a mandate to get things done in a certain time frame and that's what we will go back to the Ministry with.

"It's hard to say right now (if they will take industrial action). The members decide what happens and we just follow what they say, so it will be a teachers' decision. I wouldn't say the mood was militant but it was quite a serious mood this morning.

One Berkeley Institute teacher, who did not wish to be named, said: "If the five percent isn't given by Friday, we may consider action such as work to rule.

"Some teachers are vehement and angry that they didn't give us this rise. Some of those who didn't get paid at all for the month are deputy principals, so there's really no excuse for them not to get paid if they've been working for the school system for five years."

Jon Brunson, Acting Shadow Education Minister, reiterated the UBP's concern that teachers also had to pay bills and this could impact morale

"Teachers, like everyone else, rely on their pay to keep their households functioning, whether for food on the table, electricity bills or bus fare to get their children to school," he said. "The PLP Government made a commitment to pay them salary increases, but failed to do so.

"Government ministers can blame their technical officers, but at the end of the day the responsibility lies with the PLP ministers who lead this go

"With this in mind, we also want to express our concern about the impact of the pay failure can have on teacher morale.

"Without an acceptable explanation, it can easily be seen as disrespectful. We wonder how ministers would feel if they didn't get paid."

Mr. Horton, however, assured the public that everything was being done to ensure this deadline would be met and that he would be in constant contact with the union.

"The percentage increase will be paid. We are in talks with the union about the progress we are making. I am certainly hoping we can make that deadline (Friday at 10) we are currently working towards that deadline.

"I have asked that all hands be brought on deck to make sure we are able to get the money to the teachers in good time. I expect schools to be open as scheduled tomorrow (today)."