Government will set up a national curriculum from pre-school to senior school levels.

This was one of several education initiatives revealed by the new Progressive Labour Party Government in Friday's Throne Speech.

Written by Premier and Education Minister Jennifer Smith, it was no surprise that the issue took precedence in the PLP's first Government blueprint.

And the education plans received top marks from leaders of the teachers' and principals' unions.

Government, in the speech read by Governor Thorold Masefield, promised to do the following in terms of the public school system: Introduce a policy of mandated class sizes; Improve pre-schools by constructing purpose-built pre-schools "where necessary'' and providing trained professionals to ensure the provision of "sufficient spaces for all four-year-olds''; Relocate para-professionals in pre-schools to primary schools.

Place all pre-schools under the Ministry of Education; Abolish the policy of school zones where due to zoning "children must travel by bus to attend school even when there are places available in their neighbourhood school''; and Amend the Education Act to introduce truancy officers, create representative/elected school boards, and give schools autonomy over the service they deliver to their communities.

"The establishment of a uniform national curriculum for each level of schooling from pre-school to senior school, coupled with the introduction of a policy on mandated class sizes, will be the foundation of this Government's platform commitment to raise the standard of education,'' Ms Smith wrote.

"These amendments will be the first step to ensuring our students receive a quality education that will equip them for the demands of life in the new millennium.'' While Bermuda Union of Teachers president Michael Charles could not comment on the national curriculum plan until he had seen it, he told The Royal Gazette : "We fully support the other initiatives.

"The BUT is glad that pre-schools will finally receive the attention they finally need,'' Mr. Charles said.

"We have always lobbied for purpose-built pre-schools. We hope that these newly-constructed buildings will also be used for other community-based activities outside of the school hours.'' He said the union also fully endorsed para-professionals working alongside each Primary One and Primary Two teacher.

"During our last round of negotiations it was agreed that para-professionals would no longer be "teaching'' at the pre-school level,'' he noted. "It was also agreed that the Ministry of Education would assist para-professionals in becoming certified and give them priority in being placed at the primary school level.

"But we had not seen anything for the Education Department on how they were going to assist these people.'' Class size had also been a bone of contention with the BUT for a long time, he added.

"It is a pleasure to have anybody come out to say that it will be addressed.'' Mr. Charles said the BUT was also glad to see the past Government's policy on school zones abolished.

"We have kids in the Island passing schools to go to other schools,'' he noted. "That just did not make sense.

"It (the new method proposed by Government) may require rearranging of some school sizes. But it is what's best for the students. Whatever we do should be for the benefit of the students.'' Giving his overall view of Government's education initiatives, Mr. Charles said: "This is their first Throne Speech. If it is any indication of the kind of thinking going into education, we will be on the right track. At least people will have a choice, particularly people who can ill afford private schools.'' And while noting that he did not expect change overnight, he said: "Hopefully this will begin a time where we will realise the goal of having a public education system that we can be proud of.'' Association of School Principals president Livingston Tuzo said he had not read the Throne Speech, but he was also impressed with what he had heard.

Neither the Premier nor the president of the National PTA, Wendy Augustus, could be reached for comment.