retirement, an opposition party demanded last night.

Charles Jeffers, National Liberal Party chairman, said teachers suffered as much stress as some other jobs, but were denied the same retirement opportunities.

Now he wants to see a study launched to work out an effective early retirement plan for teachers.

Under current legislation, it is compulsory for teachers to retire at the age of 65, although they can retire aged 60.

However Mr. Jeffers said teachers should be given the same options as the Police or Prison Officers who can retire after a certain number of years service.

"With the recent attention being paid to teachers as a result of the incidents of violence in schools, the NLP asks `Who is really looking out for teachers?'.

"Today, the stress and conditions under which teachers have to work is, in our view, greater than for the Police and Prison service.

"However teachers do not have similar opportunities for early retirement. The NLP feels that teachers need to get the same or better consideration,'' said Mr. Jeffers.

He wants a study of retirement packages offered in other countries -- such as one in Ontario where a certain combination of years of service and age allows a teachers to retire with full benefits.

"How many teachers are stressed out but remain in the education system simply because they cannot afford to leave?'' he asked.

"If our school system is to be as effective as it should be, Government must make the overall welfare and well-being of teachers a high priority.'' Sen. Milton Scott, union organiser for the Bermuda Union of Teachers, said if the retirement age were to change it would require a change in the law governed by the Public Service Superannuation Act.

He said recently Government had written to some teachers floating the idea of retiring at the age of 57, but it was too early to say what their response was.

"We have talked about the issue of retirement for years and there has been general agreement that teachers should be allowed to retire early.

"The Ministry has indicated it is prepared to discuss early retirement for those teachers aged at least 57, but we have not heard the result of that yet,'' said Sen. Scott.

"We have had this on the negotiating table since about 1987 and there has been lots of support, but it requires a change in the legislation.''