budget by seven percent this year.

Finance Minister Eugene Cox said education remained one of Government's top priorities, allocating it one of the largest increases in his 2001 Budget.

Last year the Ministry was given a budget of $85.7 million. This year, Education Minister Senator Milton Scott will have $91.7 million to work with.

Of the additional funds allocated to the ministries this year, 16.55 percent of it went to the education of children at public schools.

Only health is given a bigger budget.

Since 1992, the education budget has gone up 66 percent, from $55,287.

Since the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) came into power in November 1998, the education budget has increased by almost $15 million.

Mr. Cox said: This budget speaks to how this Government will continue to address the issues of education, health, housing, law enforcement and rehabilitation, with enlightened policies and programmes.

"We have heard parents' and teachers' concerns about standards in our public education system.

"We listened, we heard, and we responded.'' He said capital investment in public education will amount to $35.3 million during the next 12 months. However, the new Berkeley Institute will swallow up $26 million of that this year.

Planned work on middle schools is estimated to cost a total of $43.6 million - $7 million of which is being invested this year.

The total estimated cost for the school safety and primary school class size reductions has increased to a new total of $2.6 million - an investment of $1.7 million is required to complete these two initiatives in the next year.

However, some of the cash for this year's capital projects comes from money that was set aside and not spent last year.

Mr. Cox said: "The Ministry of Education is allocated a total of $91.7 million in 2001 -- a seven per cent increase over the previous year.

"Of this amount, $1.3 million is new funding in the pre-school primary, middle and senior secondary levels.

"New funding in the amount of $694,000 is allocated for the restructuring of the primary school curriculum.

"The new staff at the primary school level will support the reduction in class sizes at primary three levels, which will improve the student-teacher ratios in P1, P2 and P3 to 15 to one.

"The smaller class sizes will allow primary school teachers to provide enhanced individualised instruction and to cater to different learning styles.

"A sound primary school education provides the foundation for later learning and this Government is committed to ensuring that the standards achieved will be of life-long benefit to our young people.'' The Department of Education will receive additional funding to support the restructuring of the primary school curriculum, amounting to $693,000.

More than $1.4 million has been set aside to pay for 25 additional teachers for schools.

Extra cash has also been made available to pay for additional conference attendance, increased provision for educational scholarships and awards, and for the Bermuda Youth Counselling Service.

And Government will complete its initial programme to upgrade computers in public schools by investing a further $1 million in this area during 2001.

Cash has also been made available for Bermuda College to provide additional staffing, and pay for teacher training programmes, building maintenance, the introduction of a new horticultural programme, and the extension of the computer labs operating hours.

Last night General Secretary of the Bermuda Union of Teachers Mike Charles said, in the main, he was pleased with the budget, particularly Government's commitment to reduce class sizes.

However, he said although Government's CADET programme, where students with behavioural problems are sent, was under review, there was no mention of it in the Budget.

Mr. Charles said: "I think the education budget is quite good. I see that they have set aside funds for the increase in the number of classes brought about by class size reduction -that is very positive.

"However, there is no breakdown yet of how the rest of the budget will be spent, and it concerns me that the school CADET programme is not included.

"If Sen. Scott wants to relaunch the programme in September, as he has said, it will take money from this Budget.

"It makes me ask the question as to whether or not Government is restructuring the programme or closing it down. That causes me a lot of worry because Bermuda very much needs an alternative school where children with problems can go.'' And the union leader also said there had been no mention of wage increases for teachers this year and negotiations are about to begin any time.

And likewise, there had been no mention of setting any funding aside to help get the teacher licensing scheme off the ground.

He added: "It is very positive to see Government moving in the right direction with education. It got a big increase, so it seems Government is following through on its commitment pledges to public education.

"I just hope these other things have been allocated for, as well.'' CHART Ministry of Education Spending