Members of Bermuda Educators’ Council resigned en-bloc amid claims of union and political interference, according to documents leaked to The Royal Gazette.Minutes from a meeting of the group, which oversees the licensing of teachers, show members complained the council is ineffective and finds itself in a tug of war between the Ministry of Education and Bermuda Union of Teachers.Last November, members tabled a motion to collectively resign, with an e-mail in January from chair Tina Outerbridge, a Somersfield Academy educator, confirming all elected members had quit and that they no longer exist as a body.The Ministry declined to comment yesterday when asked about the current status of the BEC and whether the members who resigned have been replaced.The BEC has been in the news in recent weeks after exemptions were granted to unlicensed teachers to allow them to fill vacancies in public schools.Shadow Education Minister Grant Gibbons yesterday called for more information about the body, noting its job is to improve standards of teaching and enhance the quality of learning, two key goals Minister Dame Jennifer Smith has said she aims to achieve.Minutes from a BEC meeting on Wednesday, November 2, states under “concerns/challenges”: “Members expressed the view that with the current structure, the council is ineffective.“There appears to be an unknown agenda. The council finds itself caught between the Ministry and BUT in an unproductive tug of war.“Finances are being depleted rapidly. The council is not in a position to independently self-support itself especially in light of financial and legislative constraints.“The BUT has indicated that members will be instructed not to pay the fees. Concerns were expressed regarding the members’ liabilities due to the crafting of the Bermuda Educators Act 2002. It appears that the council was set up to fail.”The minutes show a motion was called stating: “In the light of recent developments that have hindered the council’s ability to carry out its mandate, we, the council members, collectively and immediately resign.“We request an inquiry into the legislation governing this body, the financial structure and the members’ liability.”They note there was much discussion on the motion, with members expressing concern that children would be greatly affected if they resigned, because the council has “started to make a positive impact on improving the selection of persons who are employed to ensure quality teaching and learning takes place in the classroom”.They added: “The members felt strongly that the business of the council and their responsibility to their electorate should be conducted without union or political interference.”That discussion was postponed for legal consultation; however, an e-mail from Ms Outerbridge dated Wednesday, January 11, states: “Many of you have contacted me concerning the letter that I sent out. You were wondering if the council still existed? As a group, we collectively resigned, therefore we do not exist as a body.“However, you know that I agreed to stay on until January 31, 2012, to see that things were put in place. I have also been made aware that after a meeting with the Minister, the Minister’s appointees have agreed to continue their post.”Dr Gibbons said yesterday: “There’s a serious concern here if the council is not functioning in the way it was intended when the legislation setting it up was put through back in 2002.“The Ministry needs to provide some clarity as to the current status of the council and explain what’s going on, and provide some comment on why the members resigned and what their concerns were.“It clearly is an important body for this Government, as they put the legislation through, and it has a number of key roles. I think we need an explanation.”The Royal Gazette shared the documents with the Ministry, but a spokeswoman said there would be no comment. BUT general secretary Mike Charles could not be reached last night.