Bermuda's schoolchildren should reap the benefits from being taught more about their local history, according to Government MP and former educator Lovitta Foggo.

Ms Foggo says the older generation was "cheated" because in years gone by schools focused more on Bermuda's British roots instead of the rich past of the Island and its people.

However, she believes recent efforts to focus more on Bermuda history should help create a better sense of worth among young people.

"The Ministry of Education is endeavouring to make certain that the schoolchildren do know their local history, and that Bermuda history is the history that's being taught," Ms Foggo told The Royal Gazette.

"Even when I attended high school there were those who were trying to push for that. I think people now recognise the importance of people understanding their heritage and what roles the people of this Country played historically.

"It gives you a better sense of self if you understand your history.

"Certainly, as an educator I felt it was important that as much of the Bermudian history which was and is uncovered should be included in the overall history programme. There's been great movement in that direction. There's far more Bermudian history taught in schools today."

Ms Foggo was talking to this newspaper when it visited her St. David's constituency for Up Your Street. The area's Great Head Park is a well-known historic spot, with two 100-year-old guns originally constructed to defend the Narrow Channel into St. George's Harbour restored in recent years, as well as the erection of a monument for people lost at sea four years ago.

Other aspects of Bermuda's history remain unknown to many adults, however, such as the Island's role in the early development of the United States, as a link between the new world and the old world.

Ms Foggo said: "Much of the Bermuda history I know is from visiting places like the old Globe Hotel known to St. Georgians as the 'Confederate Museum' in St. George's or going up to Commissioner's House.

"For those who do pay attention to history, they can know more about how we all came to be here, and basically how things have evolved over the years, and it's a 'hands on' way of learning history."