Teachers will be subject to a strict licensing system from September onwards, to make sure there is a common standard across the Island.

The Bermuda Educators Council, put in place through legislation in 2002, is finalising details on how teachers will be regulated in the same way as other professionals such as lawyers and doctors.

Anthony Richardson, chairman of the council, explained that it will be mandatory for everyone working in the classroom in an educational capacity in primary, secondary and pre-schools to have a licence.

At the moment, decisions on the suitability of applicants to work in public schools is made by the HR department at the Ministry of Education and by the principals of private schools.

The new system across the board will bring Bermuda into line with many other jurisdictions which already have this type of system in place to ensure teachers have the appropriate qualifications for the job.

?Teachers come in here from the rest of the world and this will create a level playing field,? explained Mr. Richardson.

The 12-strong Educators Council, which is comprised of teachers, parents and other members of the public, is currently meeting on a monthly basis to finalise the criteria that teachers will have to fulfil to gain and keep a licence.

Mr. Richardson said that key components will be having a degree from a university that meets national accreditation standards within its own jurisdiction, as well as continuing training.

The issue of what will happen to teachers already working in Bermuda who do not fulfil the new criteria is currently being discussed, he said.

A final decision has not yet been reached on whether or not these teachers will have to take steps to fulfil the criteria within a certain period of time. The council is also in the process of determining what fee teachers will have to pay to be licensed.

A register of every teacher working in Bermuda is currently being compiled, said Mr. Richardson. Around 1,000 responses have been received to an initial registration form that was sent out ? representing around two thirds of the total number of educators. Once the licensing procedure is put in place it will be policed by the Educators Council which will have the power to investigate allegations of unprofessional conduct.

Minister of Education Terry Lister said: ?What this should do is ensure that standards are met at all times with teachers monitored from the start to the end of their careers.

?People should be required to remain current.?

Jim Silcott, Principal of Mount Saint Agnes Academy in Hamilton, welcomed the move.

?I certainly support having standards for teachers in both private and public schools to ensure we have professionals working with our children. I?m also a great believer in continuing education for teachers.

?If this is for the betterment of all the students in Bermuda, then of course I?m for it,? he said.

Roy Napier, Head of School at Bermuda High School, also supports the principle of the idea.

However, he expressed concern that it may create an additional level of bureaucracy for schools to negotiate when recruiting senior level teachers from overseas due to the shortage of them locally.

?I hope that teachers recognised overseas by another licensing body will be easily recognised in Bermuda without a lot of red tape,? he said.