Tuition fees are to be drastically cut for Bermudians studying at colleges and universities in England.

Annual fees ? currently nearly $19,000 ? will be reduced to about $5,700 from the next academic year.

Bill Rammell, the UK Minister for Higher Education, announced the move yesterday as part of a drive to encourage people from British Overseas Territories to study in England.

Mr. Rammell said students from all such territories, including Bermuda, would be charged home rate fees for further education and undergraduate degree courses in England from September 2007.

Teachers in Bermuda welcomed the move and said it would mean many more of their students could now afford a chance at further education.

Yesterday?s announcement came at the Overseas Territories Consultative Council meeting in London, which is being attended by Premier Ewart Brown and Governor Sir John Vereker.

It comes following months of pressure on the British Government by Dr. Brown and his predecessor Alex Scott, as well as leaders of other overseas territories.

Roy Napier, Head of School at Bermuda High School, said about four or five of his students fly out to study at universities and colleges in England each year.

Mr. Napier said a cut in tuition fees would make life much easier for those people and help others follow them to England.

However, he warned the cost of living and high flight prices meant studying in England would still be very expensive.

He said: ?This is very advantageous to students. UK universities are as good as those in the US or Canada and this may open the door for more to go out to the UK.

?The cost of getting there, and the cost of living once they are out there, will still be high. But this will be a substantial factor and will help people.?

Mr. Napier said reduced tuition fees would not make English universities consider Bermudian students to be a less attractive option.

He said individual universities took on so few students from Bermuda that the loss of tuition fees would not seriously affect them.

He said: ?The students are spread right across England, so this won?t make a huge difference to the universities.?

Jon Beard, head of graduation year at Saltus Grammar School, said about five Saltus students went to the UK to continue their studies last year.

He predicted the figure would rise as soon as tuition fees have dropped.

Mr. Beard said: ?It?s brilliant news. It opens up opportunities for students to go to UK universities to get their qualifications and make their mark in Europe.

?The UK has always been a popular choice, but until now many people have not been able to go there from a financial point of view. Reducing the tuition fees will remove that barrier.?

Speaking from England, Dr. Brown said: ?This is a major development for current and future students who choose to study in England. Any attempt to portray this as a result that came purely as a goodwill gesture from the British Government fails to recognise the hard work and persistence of the leaders of the overseas territories.?

Students from Bermuda who are already in England will also be eligible for reduced tuition fees from next September.