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BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

Return to school pushed back by storm

Education Minister Dame Jennifer Smith

Bermuda’s schools will not reopen on Friday for students, but the Ministry of Education is asking teachers and principals to turn up for work to prepare for Hurricane Leslie.A decision is to be made on reopening the schools following the storm’s passage.Meanwhile at a press briefing earlier yesterday, Education Minister Dame Jennifer Smith revealed that close to two dozen last minute teacher vacancies will be filled primarily by non-Bermudians but the new teachers will not be in place until later in the month.Updating the country on school readiness at a press briefing, Dame Jennifer said that four of the teacher vacancies were at the primary level, four at the middle level and 15 at the senior level.“I am pleased to note that with the exception of two of these posts, we have identified replacements,” Dame Jennifer said.“Confirmation of their documentation is pending and we anticipate that they will be in place during the month of September.“The majority of these posts must be filled by persons from overseas and our difficulty has been in receiving timely responses to allow us to conclude the certification and immigration processes from on our end.”Dame Jennifer also addressed a call by the Opposition One Bermuda Alliance to relax the school uniform requirements to ease economic hardship faced by parents.She said that uniforms were important to level the playing field in schools and that parents with concerns should discuss them with their schools.“I know that our staff will work with them and ensure that assistance is provided,” she said.The Ministry of Education also announced yesterday the appointment of Ms Tajuana Anne Dean as the Acting Principal of Dalton E. Tucker primary school for the coming school year.Ms Dean began her teaching career in 1985 at the Victor Scott Primary School, where she taught primaries 1, 4, 5, and 6.“She has also held positions as a Librarian and Computer & Language Arts Coordinator. In 2001, she worked as a Mentor Teacher for the Ministry of Education and following this three-year appointment, was hired as Deputy Principal of Port Royal Primary,” according to a Ministry statement.“In 2005, Ms Dean was voted Teacher of the Year by the Bermuda Union of Teachers.”