Government's school for disruptive students will not begin operating until April.

The Royal Gazette has learned that incomplete renovations and the absence of key Bermuda Regiment personnel has forced the two-month delay.

The school was scheduled to open in the Regiment's barracks at Warwick Camp this month.

But yesterday Adjutant Capt. Edward Lamb said the school -- which will begin with 12 students and can accommodate 28 -- will not open until the first week of April.

"There are still some minor renovations required for the rooms that Works and Engineering have to do,'' he explained.

Regiment officials met with Education Ministry representatives on February 3 and discovered that there were certain matters that needed to be sorted out, Capt. Lamb said.

Because of renovations it was decided that the opening would be postponed until the first week of March.

But, he noted, some of the Regiment's soldiers who are in Kenya on exercises with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Anglian Regiment will not return to Bermuda until March 21.

And Capt. Lamb pointed out that the group included "a lot of key players'' in the alternative schooling programme.

"The Regiment will play a very important part,'' he stressed. "They will be involved on a daily basis.

In addition to inspecting the students at the beginning of the school day, Capt. Lamb said Regiment officials will also instruct the students for two hours every afternoon.

School opening delayed "Their day will begin with a muster parade (roll call),'' he explained.

"They will have to stand in line and be inspected. We expect their uniform to be worn correctly.

"Then later that day, at 1300 hours, we will have them involved in various activities and courses, including first aid, military studies, signals teaching which teaches them to operate our radios, leadership lectures, cooking, music, mechanics, map reading and some adventure training.'' Calling himself "an incurable optimist'', Capt. Lamb said: "A major problem in our community is that there are very few strong male role models. In the Regiment they will see what men are all about -- strong, yet compassionate men.

"We have people (soldiers) here who have been with Probation Services or on day release who we have seen positive results from in a matter of just weeks because he is in an environment where everything is structured. We are firm, but we are fair and caring. We're trained to look after the well being of men.

"We see 18- and 19-year-old versions of students coming to this school so hopefully by having them (younger people) exposed to this at a younger age, the Regiment will benefit, the student will benefit because he is given the opportunity -- now whether or not he sees this is up to him, and the country as a whole benefits.'' In the long term, Capt. Lamb noted, there should be "more vacancies at Westgate''.

"I do see a lot of potential for success,'' he said. "But it will require support from home life and parents. We are providing the ancillary support.

The primary support has to come from home.''