Dedicated school teachers are spending hundreds of dollars of their own money every year on facilities and decorations for their classrooms.

Educators revealed that some teachers run up credit cards to their limits and spend as much as one month's salary every year in an effort to provide their pupils with additional learning material and colourful surroundings.

When they go abroad on holiday, they often return laden down with new educational equipment that they think will motivate their pupils and keep them interested.

One primary school principal, who did not wish to be named, said: "I would say it happens in all schools, particularly primary and middle schools. All teachers do it. We do what we need to do in order to brighten up the classrooms and provide them with interesting things that we think they will like.

"Anything which we feel our students will appreciate as prizes, such as books, toys, stickers, even food, we will buy. Then there are charts for the walls and things to decorate rooms. Some teachers can spend the equivalent of a month's pay cheque. And holidays are the time when teachers buy more. Even while they are travelling, they are thinking about their classrooms.

"It is not unusual to have your credit cards ran up just buying things for school.'' Mildred Hunt, who owns Al-Mil Enterprises which sells school stationery and equipment, said she is visited every day by teachers who are using their own money to make classroom purchases.

She said: "I would not say all teachers do it, but certainly the dedicated and most interested do. We have regulars that we see just about every month, then you get a lot of teachers who come down once a year to decorate their rooms.

"Most who come are spending their own money, and I know that when they go on holiday overseas they spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars. I know when I was a teacher I used to buy things all the time -- I spent mega bucks.'' General Secretary of the Bermuda Union of Teachers Michael Charles said teachers should be given credit for the dedication they gave and the money they spent.

He said: "I think it happens in primary schools more. The teachers are so proud of their classes and attached to them and their students, they don't even like taking a day off. I would say many spend between $500 and $800 every year in trying to motivate their pupils and buying them things they think will help their education "I think a lot of people fail to realise that. These teachers are dedicated.''