The Ministry of Education is developing initiatives to cater to high achievers in Bermuda's schools.

Last week Minister of Education Terry Lister said a lot of money has been invested in helping those students who lag behind but not much had been invested in those students who were above average.

He added that the Ministry is working with the Institute of Talented Students which is linked to Johns Hopkins University's Centre for Talented Teens.

The Centre offers tests to early middle school students and if they receive high scores they are admitted into the programme, which takes place after school, said Mr. Lister.

Mr. Lister said that Government will pay for the tests which cost $45, if the parents could not afford the fee.

The after-school programme will cost about $2,000 and Mr. Lister said that Government has allotted money in the budget to help cover the costs.

Mr. Lister said that if a student is advanced in a certain subject they will be pulled out of the class and taken to a resource centre (a chosen room within the school) where they will be with other high achievers, doing their own programmes.

If a student is outstanding in every subject they may skip a grade, he added.

Mr. Lister said: "We want to be able to say that we have programmes in place for outstanding students.

"Often times bright students get bored ? so we want to make sure they perform at their best."

Mr. Lister said other plans for the High Achiever initiatives are still in the works.

A School for the Performing Arts is to be part of the High Achievers initiative and a team has been set up to research it, he said.

Mr. Lister said that the team will present him with a report on October 31 with recommendations for the new school. No decision has yet been taken on whether the school will be in its own building or if it will be incorporated into existing schools.

The recommendations will include: location, criteria for entrance, and curriculum.

Mr. Lister is waiting to see the report before answering any questions regarding the school however, he did say that it is his hope the school is completed by next September.