Sex offenders, particularly paedophiles, could receive a letter before their release, banning them from schools.

Education Minister Tim Smith revealed this yesterday to The Royal Gazette .

"The safety and security of our children is absolutely imperative,'' he said.

His comments came on the heels of renewed calls for schools to be notified about sex offenders.

Last week a suspected paedophile was caught walking across St. George's Golf Course with a little boy.

The Primary One student from St. George's Preparatory was not harmed and the man was arrested.

But the incident put school staff and parents on the alert and caused many to ask why Bermuda did not have a "Megan's Law'' as in the US where a community is notified when a sex offender is to be released into that community.

The Women's Resource Centre have proposed a similar policy for schools.

It has been pushing for schools to be notified when a convicted sex offender, particularly a paedophile, is released and for the screening of all school employees, including janitors and security.

In January, it was proposed that a joint initiative between the WRC, the Education Ministry, and the Public Safety Ministry would work with the Police to draft Cabinet papers to update the law.

The Cabinet papers were expected to be prepared by the end of January.

But no progress has been made on the issue.

WRC chairperson Penny Dill said the group was scheduled to meet with Police Commissioner Jean Jacques Lemay and the Education Department's senior manager of human resources Veronica Todd last month, but it was cancelled because Mr.

Lemay was called away on personal business.

Ms Dill added she was concerned that the proposal would be forgotten with the changing of the Cabinet ministers involved.

"I would like to see another meeting held as soon as possible,'' she said.

And yesterday while unaware of when a next meeting will be held on the issue, Mr. Smith said when he meets with the parties involved he will "insist'' on three things: Known sex offenders receive a letter, before they are released, barring them from school properties; Schools be made aware of all sex offenders; and Thorough record checkings are made of any employee of public schools.'' However, Education comptroller Harrichand Sukdeo -- who occasionally acts as Permanent Secretary -- pointed out that most school staff were carefully screened and required to state, on the job application, whether they had a conviction.

There was a slim chance of a sex offenders being hired, he added.