Gifted public school students could soon benefit from two programmes offered by Johns Hopkins University in the US.

Education and Development Minister, Terry Lister told the House of Assembly yesterday how, during a visit to the University, he examined the Distance Education programme though which courses to accelerate and enrich student learning could be offered through technology.

?We are examining this as a feasible option, since we know that most homes in Bermuda have access to a computer and that many have internet access,? he said.

The second programme, Masters of Arts in Gifted Education combines administration, supervision and gifted education into an intense 14 month course.

?I was interested in this programme for two reasons, because it focused on improving skills and process, not content and because there is a Bermudian already registered in the course,? he said.

Mr. Lister told the House that the Ministry of Education was serious about exploring ways in which they could reach every single one of their students.

?For a while there was a void regarding educational programmes for the gifted and talented. Now we are back on track,? he said.

He said the Ministry had in place a short-term programme for students and the Ministry was also looking at ways in which they could facilitate having their teachers trained in these areas. Mr. Lister ended by telling the House that because of the mandate to provide education for students, the Ministry of Education and Development would underwrite the fees applicable to public school students to participate in these programmes so that there was ?no barrier? to their participation.

Public school students who are classified as gifted and/or talented have been receiving instruction from the Institute for Talented Students (ITS) for almost three years.

During the 2003-2004 year, 41 public school students participated after having successfully passed the test set by ITS which students between the ages of ten and 14 have to pass to be eligible for the programme.