Parents of students at three schools faced with possible closure night reacted with shock at the disclosure.

Government is considering closing five primary schools East End Primary, Prospect Primary, Gilbert Institute, Heron Bay Primary and Dalton E. Tucker Primary moving the pupils to other schools.

But Gillian Frost, whose two children attend Dalton E. Tucker, said just because it was a small school it did not mean it should close.

"I don't know of any other schools that offer as much as Dalton E. Tucker school, with preschool care from 7.30 a.m. and after-school care until 6 p.m. daily and camps available during every school break. A soccer-themed mentoring programme is available for the older school boys during lunchtimes and Saturday school available for P3 to P6.

"Closing the schools may be partly a cost-saving measure but you cannot cut costs where education is concerned. Investing in the consistency and quality of what goes on in the schools, at all school levels, has to be a priority.

"The foundation built at the primary school level is essential to the continued education of the children as they progress through the system. It is somewhat contradictory to close primary schools when they have been seen to be maintaining a high retention of students."

Tina Caisey's child goes to Prospect and she had concerns with the possible classroom size increase asking: "So what does this mean? How many children will now be in a classroom?

"Some children are struggling now with trying to get individual attention because of the amount of students in a class.

"The idea to do away with P7 and add middle schools was something I was never in agreement with, but it happened and it seems to have gotten us nowhere, and now they are looking to put that back into place — this I agree with."

One mother, who didn't want to be named, has two children in East End and said: "I think it's a very bold decision that they're going to tell me in January that the schools are going to push the children together. I think they are making a bold decision too soon."

Another mother, who also did not want to be named, said she was worried about the drastic changes on her son who attends Prospect Primary.

Asked if it was a good idea, she said: "No, not at all. You're saying that East End can go St. David's and Francis Patton, but then you have Prospect where they have four options. He's [my son] really questioning what they're doing and how it's going to affect him and when. He's really concerned."