explain Government plans to cut the education budget by $2.2 million.

He will be accompanied by Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul at the meeting on Saturday, February 6 at Bermuda College in Paget.

And Mr. Simons said he is determined to prove to mothers and fathers that the quality of their children's education will not be affected by the cuts.

The meeting follows an uproar at the announcement of the cuts by both parents and the Bermuda National PTA. PTA fears that the cuts will lead to a shortage of teachers, toilet rolls and school books have already been eased by Mr.

Simons.

He said yesterday: "I will be saying the same things to the parents as I said to the PTA (executive) in a two hour meeting, last week.

"Parents were concerned that basics like cleaning materials and toilet rolls will not be supplied. This is simply not the case.

"It is recognised that we have a large supply of text books but there will be sufficient money to buy replacements.'' Mr. Simons said that teaching numbers will be reduced by retirement and replacement, and teachers have until Monday, March 15 to apply for early retirement.

He said: "Some people fear that children will be without teachers. That is certainly not what will happen. Every child will taught in a classroom by a suitable, qualified teacher.'' He said resignations and retirements had been mentioned to give certain members of the teaching staff an option.

Mr. Simons said he will continue to look for the $2.2 million cuts demanded from his Ministry by the Government and decisions will be made over the coming two months.

He said: "Two million dollars is a goal that has to be found, but making cuts in education is not an easy task to do.'' But he did say the closure of the summer programme may have to be reviewed because of the public outcry against such a plan.

He also pointed out that possible changes to help save money would include looking at the jobs of deputy principals of the Island's secondary schools, encouraging them to spend more time in the classroom and the scrapping of some overseas conferences.

At the meeting in the New Hall Lecture Theatre, in Bermuda College, Mr. Simons said that Dr. Saul had been invited to put the cuts into an economic context in terms of the Goverment's need to find cuts in all departments because of the recession.

Mr. Simons said: "I will talk about educational reductions stressing that they will be made judicially and that they will not adversely affect the quality of education of children in Bermuda.

"I will explain that what we are trying to do is generally seek efficiency in the education system.'' The meeting takes place between 9 a.m. and noon. Letters will be sent out today to PTA members informing them of the meeting.