The Education Ministry did not score well yesterday with the general public on preparation for the new school year.

In an informal, random street poll carried out by The Royal Gazette , parents and others said they were disappointed that the Ministry waited until the "eleventh hour'' to announce delays in the opening of all middle and some primary schools.

Middle schools were scheduled to open for the first time on the Island yesterday. But Education Minister Jerome Dill last week announced that primarily due to construction delays caused by bad weather the middle schools -- Sandys, Spice Valley, Dellwood, Whitney, and Clearwater -- and three primary schools -- West Pembroke, Northlands, and East End -- would not open on time. All of the above schools will open next week Monday except Dellwood which is now slated to begin classes on September 22.

And while the Ministry with the assistance of the Youth and Sports Department and various sporting groups have arranged free activities for some children, most of the people surveyed yesterday said they did not believe it was good enough.

"I don't like it at all,'' one mother who declined to be identified said about the delay in schools opening. "I'm wondering if they (children) are going to make up for this week.

"Teachers are already behind when it comes to lesson plans.'' Thelma Foster, who has grandchildren in the public school system, bluntly said: "It is disgusting. When you drove past the schools you could see they were not ready.'' And Calvin Virgil said due to the nature of construction work, the Ministry should not have promised to have the schools ready by a specific date. "Everyone is trying to do something positive,'' he said. "It is unfortunate that this happened. It will affect the whole term.

"They should not have promised the schools would be ready, if they were not sure. Delays happen all the time in the construction field. They were biting off more than they could chew.'' However, several interviewed said they believed the delays were not as much the result of bad weather, but of poor planning by the Education Ministry.

"They should have started the work right after school finished in June,'' said Dianah Baron who has no children in the system. "It's a little disappointing for the parents and the children.'' And Judy Rollin agreed.

"I feel sorry for the kids and parents,'' she said. "They should have been given more notice.

"The kids are losing out. It is disappointing for them, especially since they are getting excited about the new school system.

"I do think we have to plan ahead more. It is almost embarrassing for Bermuda.'' Mother of a child who has not yet started school, Marita Simons, said: "I just think it is sad that the children are not all going back at the same time. They should have planned better.'' And while Tucker Hall does not have children, he echoed similar sentiments.

"It is ridiculous,'' he said of the delays. "There's no excuse for this. The furniture is not here. Generally it is not particularly good planning.

"This is not the first time something like this has happened in education.

The senior people in the Education Department have to be made accountable.'' But one parent was sympathetic to the Ministry. Edwin Lambert, whose son will be attending the CedarBridge Academy which opens for the first time next week, said: "I think they did the right thing in protecting the children from potential danger. I think they were looking to finish it at the time they requested, but those things happen. I think we have to be patient about things.'' Dianah Baron Tucker Hall Edwin Lambert Judy Rollin Marita Simons Calvin Virgil EDUCATION ED