All "fully-certified'' Bermudian teachers have secured jobs in the restructured public school system.

Raymond Latter, senior manager of the Education Department's human resources, told The Royal Gazette the placement of the teachers completed the bulk of hirings.

The news came on the heels of an admission last week by Education Minister Jerome Dill that some non-Bermudian contract teachers had secured places before some Bermudians.

Mr. Dill, who was responding in the House of Assembly to questions from Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith, said the contract teachers were recruited to meet "specific needs of the system which could not be met by Bermudian staff''.

"The restructured system required some teachers with different skill sets from those used in the current system,'' he said. "All Bermudian teachers will be employed as promised.'' The department, which declared all teaching posts vacant last year as part of the restructuring of the public school system, promised that no Bermudian teacher would be without a job as a result of the changes.

And Mr. Latter yesterday confirmed that all certified Bermudian teachers had been placed.

But he said there were still three spouses of Bermudians to be placed.

And he noted that there were still some spots to be filled.

"Overall we've just got a few vacancies, particularly for a physics teacher (for the senior secondary level) for information technology, and support staff,'' Mr. Latter said.

A physical education/classroom teacher was also needed for the primary level.

"The major part is finished now,'' he added. "It's just a question of ensuring that the other things are tidied up.''