The Education Department today issued a statement over reports of teacher job losses.We reported today that scores of teachers have had their jobs axed as the Ministry of Education continues to try to slash millions of dollars from its budget.This afternoon Permanent Secretary Warren Jones said: “As the Permanent Secretary for Education, I must correct the erroneous impression given by some news stories suggesting that there will be a void in schools in the next school year (September 2011).“This is alarmist and totally in contradiction to the Ministry’s stated commitment to put teaching and learning first.“In all cases, both schools and the Ministry are moving forward with student needs clearly at the forefront of our decisions.“In accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Department of Education and the Bermuda Union of Teachers, all persons whose employment status will change in the next school year must have been notified by June 1st.“This was done and there have been no further ‘cuts’ since that date.“As previously stated, persons affected included paraeducators on one year contracts and persons who are unqualified and unregistered with the Bermuda Educators Council.“To be clear, persons who do not meet the legal requirements to be in our classrooms and who do not have an exemption are being released. I would expect everyone to agree that those who teach our children must be qualified.“I also want to inform you of an issue which only became apparent after June 1st. I discovered that a group of four (4) Bermudian teachers for some reason were hired on a one year contract, although they were both qualified and certified, upon learning of this issue, I gave instructions that these persons should be given letters of appointment as should have been the case at the start of their employment.“These persons will continue to be employed in September.“Finally, Aided Schools are responsible for their budget allocations. Principals of such schools, in conjunction with their Boards, made their own decisions on how best to proceed and they communicated said decisions to their staff.“Where necessary, the Department of Education will work with them to reassign qualified teachers to any vacancies in the system.” ~ Warren W. Jones, Permanent Secretary of Education.”