A policy which gives parents of disruptive students the final word on whether a school can send their children to Warwick Camp has raised eyebrows and ire among educators.

The Royal Gazette understands that principals and teachers have been concerned about parents' veto power since the Centre for Adolescent Development, Education and Training or CADET opened last April at Warwick Camp for 12 to 16-year-olds with a history of behavioural problems.

The situation came to the forefront this month when staff at Spice Valley Middle School refused to begin work until the Education Ministry stepped in to address concerns about a disruptive student.

Staff at the school had exhausted all avenues of handling the 13-year-old student who has reportedly been verbally abusive to teachers and disruptive to her peers.

But her parents have refused to allow the school to send her to CADET.

And because of the girl's age, the school was left with no other choice but to take the student back.

While educators have been reluctant to discuss details of the case, it is understood that there is concern that it will open the floodgates for others.

The Bermuda Union of Teachers plan to raise the issue with the Premier and Education Minister Jennifer Smith today during a meeting on general education issues.

And the Association of School Principals is seeking to meet with top education officials before the end of the school year to thrash the matter out.

"We will definitely be bringing it up with the (Education) Minister because Government has stated that students who have long-term suspension should go there (to CADET),'' BUT general secretary Michael Charles said when contacted yesterday.

"I just want a clarification from the Minister because if Government can say students should go there, then parents can veto this, what's the point.

"It is definitely a concern from the standpoint of teachers, after they have exhausted every alternative programme and facilities, that parents still have the power to veto any alternative programme outside of the school.'' ASP president Livingston Tuzo pointed out that while he hardly interacts with the CADET programme since he is responsible for a primary school, he had also heard rumblings about the situation.

"There have been problems getting the children in and some simply don't show up,'' he said of the CADET school.'' The ASP has requested a meeting with Chief Education Officer Joseph Christopher and Senior Education Officer for Student Services Joeann Smith to discuss the whole idea of inclusion, particularly the CADET school and the provisions that will be made for primary schools. Mr. Tuzo said: "Principals are hoping to meet with the education officials before the end of the school year.

"Even before the Spice Valley incident we raised concerns. We had a meeting with Joeann Smith about two weeks ago.

"In light of what happened at Spice Valley, principals need to know what's going on.

"There is a need for a time-out place for older primary school students as well. We really have some concerns.'' Education officials could not be reached for comment yesterday.

But earlier this week Ms Smith told The Royal Gazette schools needed parents' permission because the programme at CADET school was not limited to the student's academic life.

"We have to work closely with students in terms of reshaping their family life,'' she said. "We have to work closely with the parent in order to do this.''