At least three primary and three middle schools will not open as planned next week.

Education Minister Jerome Dill yesterday announced that bad weather during the past two weeks had forced construction delays at East End, West Pembroke and Northlands Primary Schools and Spice Valley Middle School.

And last night chairman of The Middle School at Sandys, Dr. John Cann, disclosed that that school will also not open until September 15.

Dr. Cann said while the physical plant was ready and all safety features were in place for additional contruction, there were delays due to weather and the delivery of supplies.

However, he said parents were supportive of the board's decision to delay the opening. He attributed this to the fact that principal Melvyn Bassett had been keeping them informed on a monthly basis.

Both Sandys and the Education Ministry's announcements came nearly 48 hours after Mr. Dill announced Dellwood Middle School will not open until September 22.

Mr. Dill yesterday said work was being carried out on East End's roof when rain stopped construction and damaged equipment inside the school.

West Pembroke Primary will also remained closed for one week, he said, because general renovation work still needed to be completed and boxes of equipment destined for Dellwood were still stored there.

And he noted that while construction at Northlands was "coming along beautifully'', there were a couple of areas which need to be finished and some painting was still required.

But Mr. Dill said East End's principal Cathy Bassett and teachers have agreed to supervise at St. George's Community Centre any children whose parents were not able to keep them at home.

"They will be looked after by the teachers on a rotating-supervision basis because the teachers also need time to get their classrooms ready,'' he added.

Parents who have any questions should call 297-0038 anytime until 7 p.m.

tonight.

Mr. Dill said he hoped other teachers would volunteer to supervise students.

And he said the Ministry was looking at using church halls, including the New Testament Church of God on North Shore and the Salvation Army Citadel on North Street, St. Paul's AME's Centennial Hall, and the Cathedral Hall to allow such a situation.

But Bermuda Union of Teachers president Michael Charles and general secretary Milton Scott -- who met with Mr. Dill and education officials yesterday -- told The Royal Gazette the Education Ministry would not have found itself in such a predicament at the eleventh hour if it had heeded the union's warnings weeks ago.

And Sen. Scott said the BUT did not expect any of the middle schools or Paget Primary to be ready for next week.

"He stated emphatically that all schools will open on time; probably without looking at the schools,'' Mr. Charles said., "Because he assured everybody of this, some parents may have pulled their children out of programmes in which they could have continued.'' Sen. Scott said the union was also concerned the Ministry was asking teachers to supervise students.

Cartoon: Page 4