Education Minister Paula Cox is looking at innovative ways to keep and attract teachers into the system - including a new internship programme where they can go out and work in the community.

The Minister revealed the new initiative during an interview with The Royal Gazette and said one leading company on the Island had offered to provide internships.

She said the idea would be for teachers to spend some of their school holidays working in the business community, for pay, in a bid to break down barriers between the public education system and the workplace.

The end result, she hoped, would be that students and teachers would have a better understanding of what was required in the community, and businesses would better appreciate the Island's schools and pupils.

However, as it was very early stages, she did not wish to name the company at this point.

When asked what the Ministry was trying to do keep and attract teachers, Ms Cox said there was a host of ideas, besides the recent seven percent increase to pay last week.

"There are a number of things," said Ms Cox.

"One is pay, but it's also with regard to trying to find ways to facilitate things like sabbaticals; trying to find ways to facilitate issues like professional development and courses; trying to give the people a way in terms of getting some dynamism injected into their careers by maybe working on a special project or working with the Ministry, and even trying out some of these acting appointments.

"I think we are moving into another stage in terms of the community outreach, and there is renewed interest from the business community in terms of seeing what they can do to help."

Ms Cox said she had been approached by a very successful Bermuda company that was interested in offering internships to those teachers who wanted to take part.

"They want to do something in collaboration with us in helping to recognise our educators. And it's fabulous," she added.

"It's a different way. I don't want to breach their confidentiality, because perhaps they will go back to the drawing board, but it's a wonderful idea."

Ms Cox said she believed teachers would find it invigorating and exciting.

"I think teachers want to be even better at what they do and I think that all helps," said the Minister. "Not because they are deficient, but because it helps to have another perspective. It's cross-training and you are trying to prepare students for the world after school.

"Education is in the business of seeking to be relevant, so if you have more information about what there is out there in the job market, so long as they don't get so allured by it that they choose to stay, then it has to be a benefit."

But the Minister said since she had been at the helm of education in the last 18 months, she had seen growing interest from the business community.

She said recent disturbing incidents with young people in Bermuda, such as the increase in violence and drug use had led all sectors of the community to realise that they had to get involved.

She added: "There is a greater emphasis, apart from the Ministry, in terms of the private sector. "Everyone is realising they have a stake in the output of the public education system. Recent sobering events which are disquieting and disturbing for us all ... are highlighting more and more the need for people to play a more activist role in trying to make sure that we raise the bar and make sure that our education system is working because the community benefits.

"Whether you call it enlightened self interest, or whether you call it savvy, business wise and politically, you are seeing a greater level of interest in being good corporate godfathers to the public education system."