Parents can expect to pay up to $8,000 next year to educate one child in local private schools.

At least four of the Island's six private schools plan to increase their annual fees from three to five percent.

And while officials at several of the schools attributed the increases to inflation and salaries, they stressed parents will definitely be getting their money's worth.

Warwick Academy will charge each student $7,050 for the 1998/99 school year.

This represents a 4.44 percent increase over the current year "and is made necessary by increases in salaries and overall costs'', Bursar Joan Shadbolt stated in a letter sent out to parents this month.

Mrs. Shadbolt explained that the increase was not linked to Warwick's building plans.

Private schools raise fees which include new rooms devoted to Information Technology, Health Education and primary school classrooms.

"The cost of building is being financed entirely by a fundraising campaign and not by tuition fees,'' she said. "You are therefore encouraged to give your generous support to this effort.'' Mrs. Shadbolt later told The Royal Gazette the increase was exactly the same as last year.

"It works out to be an increase of $100 a term,'' she said. "We look at our people and expenses and have to increase the cost.'' However, she pointed out that the school planned to add more teachers and new posts next year.

Saltus has also sent out letters informing parents that tuition for the year 1998/99 will increase by 4.75 percent or from $6,975 to $7,310.

Spokesman Dan Blagg said the reasons for the increase, noted in the letter, were the school development plan, a three percent increase in salaries, and further investments in staff development, major improvements to the junior school library, a reduction in class sizes and the provision of financial services.

"We do our teachers' increases on whatever the public school system does,'' he explained. "Our fees remain competitive by local and global standards.'' Despite the increase, Saltus -- which has had a demand for spaces in its preparatory and junior school for years -- was now receiving more applicants for its senior year.

Mr. Blagg said: "Traditionally Bermudians would be sent overseas after completing the senior level.

"But because we have made a more aggressive effort to show parents the importance of our SGY (Saltus Graduate Year), we are seeing more students enrolling in that.'' SGY currently has 75 students and another 75 to 80 are expected next year.

"Half of the students are from Saltus and the other half are from Warwick Academy and the public high schools,'' Mr. Blagg said.

"Our senior school had the highest enrolment than any school. Students are opting to stay.'' Saltus also still had a waiting list for spots in its preparatory and junior school, he added.

Bermuda Institute principal Sheila Holder said the Seventh-Day Adventist school was also still receiving a high number of applications.

But she said there was more of a demand for spaces at the lower level, rather than the high school level.

Bermuda Institute plans to increase its rates three to five-and-a-half percent in the lower and upper school, respectively.

Therefore the highest tuition paid will be around $5,000. It is believed to be the least expensive private school on the Island.

But Eleanor Kingsbury, headmistress at one of the most expensive local private schools -- Bermuda High School for Girls, said she believed money should not be spared when it comes to education.

Noting that tuition will increase by 3.1 percent or from $7,710 to $7,950 in the coming school year at BHS, Mrs. Kingsbury said: "There are years when it's been more and when its been less. The increase is probably the lowest for us in a while.

"But people must realise if they want smaller classes and all the good things that a good education brings, they must be willing to pay for it.'' BHS -- which has 624 students and is projecting a similar enrolment next year -- has classes of 15 students or less.

And, Mrs. Kingsbury pointed out, even if there were four students interested in a subject -- such as Latin -- it would be taught.

"If you say you have a well-rounded curriculum, then you have to offer that,'' she said. "You also have to take on more staff to reduce class size and that costs. There has to be a trade-off.'' Despite the increases, Mrs. Kingsbury said, Bermuda's private schools were not expensive compared to private schools worldwide.

"In fact the only bargain in Bermuda are the private schools,'' she quipped.

Officials from Mount St. Agnes Academy and Montessori Academy were not available for comment.

What Bermuda's private schools will charge in fees next year: Bermuda High School $7,950 Saltus Grammar 7,310 Warwick Academy 7,050 Bermuda Institute $5,000* Mount St. Agnes Not available Montessori Not available *Highest fee paid