to renegotiate their contracts to allow for training outside their regular working hours.

Premier and Education Minister Jennifer Smith said on Friday that teachers' work schedules had become so condensed that their jobs had become more stressful and the new Government wished to open discussions with teachers to address their concerns.

Ms Smith was speaking at a press conference on Friday.

Asked if she was disappointed with teachers not wanting to be involved in workshops outside of normal working hours, Ms Smith said: "What we have to do is work together with teachers to see that their time is used best. We may have to renegotiate the agreement.

"Certainly I could not argue with people that give over and above their job descriptions,'' she added. "I feel to every problem there is a solution.'' The Premier said the Country could not continue to add tasks to teachers' plates because the subjects and skills taught had changed from those in the past.

And education reforms carried out during the 1990s had not addressed the time teachers spent in school or the amount of leave they have both of which affect workloads.

Teachers In October, Bermuda Union of Teachers and Ministry officials were at loggerheads over the scheduling of the BUT's annual conference and the ministry's professional development day.

The development day was to be held on November 9 but was switched to November 10 after the General Election was called.

Chief Education Officer Joseph Christopher first gave the union an ultimatum but later backed down.