The National PTA have appointed several members to act as watchdogs over restructuring.

Head of the parents' union Anthony Steede yesterday told The Royal Gazette that despite delays in appointments to top posts at the middle and senior secondary schools, the group were working to ensure that the schools were ready for students in September, 1997.

He was responding to an agreement reached last week, between the Education Ministry and the Bermuda Union of Teachers, to scrap results from a controversial test taken by applicants for deputy principal and other top posts at middle schools and Cedarbridge Academy.

The two parties agreed to come up with a new application process by January 31, next year.

But Mr. Steede said: "Our big concern is that we want to see the key personnel appointed as soon as possible because when you have a group of people in administration they need to gel first.

"We think this should have been done in December. But that's not going to happen. I don't see anybody really being appointed until March.'' "But we're not going to allow this delay to hamper anything,'' he quickly added. "We are going to do all we can to make sure that everything that needs to be in place is in place by September.'' Mr. Steede said the group had appointed National PTA executive members Oliver Trott and Patricia Basden as the liaison team to work with Cedarbridge Academy officials. And the National PTA have set up a restructuring committee headed by Stephen Emery and Raymond Dowling.

The committee will focus on any aspects of restructuring at the middle and senior school levels "to ensure that whatever is promised is done''.

"That's how committed we are to ensuring that this restructuring is a success,'' Mr. Steede said.

"A lot of people wonder why the National PTA has not been as confrontational as in the past. This is because we have developed a consultation relationship with the Ministry.

"That type of process works in the interest of everybody because we're all in this together.

"I would like for everybody to embrace the idea of restructuring because it will help our children in the long run. And if every parent makes that effort, our children can't lose.'' Mr. Steede also challenged parents to get involved in all aspects of their children's education.