Furious National PTA chairman Anthony Steede last night threatened to quit because of stay-at-home parents.

And he warned the national parents' body could wind up due to lack of support.

Mr. Steede lashed out after a meeting of the national parents' body had to be cancelled -- after only a handful of parents turned up.

And he said: "It's very possible I'll quit -- probable is probably a better word.'' And he challenged parents to back the organisation with more than just kind words.

Mr. Steede said: "The Ministry of Education looks to us for support and, in a lot of cases, advice.

"But it's very unfortunate that the masses don't see the importance of us being represented by one, collective, solid voice.

"It's totally frustrating for the executive as a group because we are committed to two meetings a month -- and that's not including all the special meetings we attend.'' Education Minister Jerome Dill last night gave his personal backing to the National PTA.

He said: "There is still lots of work to be done -- I will do all I can as Minister, but there is no way I will be successful or teachers will be successful unless we have that parental involvement.'' Mr. Dill added that the low turnout could be seen as "a mixed blessing'' because parents tended to turn out at crisis points -- not when things were going well.

He said: "Mr. Steede and the National PTA should hang in there. He was there during all the hard times and he should be there now to enjoy some of the good things.

"I share his disappointment with the lack of turnout, but I'm hopeful the next meeting will be better attended.'' Only a handful of people turned up at the meeting at the Bermuda Industrial Union's Hamilton headquarters -- and three of them were office holders.

The meeting was due to have been addressed by Bermuda Police Task Force head Insp. Stuart Crockwell, who had to be called off.

But Mr. Steede -- who was set to stand down in October after three years as chairman -- warned parents: "When the issues come up and they want our support, we're always there.

"Most of us are feeling that we should be looking at whether the National PTA has a place or not -- that's my feeling, anyway.'' Mr. Steede added there was a total of 31 public and private schools on the Island.

He said last year 18 school PTAs forked out to join the national body -- but that this year only nine had paid up the cash.

The father-of-three added: "It's very discouraging -- when you work hard to try and ensure the best possible education is in place for our children -- because I include my own -- and you get three or four people showing up, it's extremely frustrating.'' He said: "Last year was a good year and we were expecting much more this year -- but everybody makes promises and don't follow through.''