A new technical programme focused on young Bermudian males will open next month giving them a chance to achieve a high school diploma in the process.

The Technical Skills Centre is due to open on September 8.

Fourteen young men between the ages of 17 and 19 are enrolled, with all of them hoping to attain their high school diplomas and receive technical training.

Director Michael Stowe said he believes the programme will come to benefit many more.

"First of all it's helping them achieve a high school diploma," he explained. "This one here is particularly a technical high school diploma. No matter what subject matter, they're going to be doing as many as five studies in a technical area. The technical centre is not a school. This programme is not a school."

The programme enables students to have educational and technical opportunities as well as technical training in the classroom and in the industry through a partnership with Pennsylvania-based Penn Foster High School, Mr. Stowe explained.

"Students in the programme will do distance learning through Penn Foster High School within the programme. What this programme provides is directed assistance. We work with them to work through each area. Giving them directed assistance means the instructors will be in direct communication with us.

"I develop with them the ability to organise their time, to focus on a subject area. Traditional programmes don't work. That is the biggest hindrance to their self-esteem."

In order to ensure success, the programme utilises a "continuum of development" approach where each student will benefit from a case management method concerning their education and training."

Mr. Stowe stressed how unique the programme was. Each student receives an on-line instructor and counsellor and free equipment keeps the cost of tuition low, with fees approximately $500 each month. It is possible for students to graduate from the programme in less than a year.

"This programme moves at the pace of the student. There will be seven students to every facilitator. Students will be in the centre from 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Then from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., they will be placed within the industry so that they can get the hands on training and experience. They will not be employed. They will not receive a wage. They will get a stipend, a minimum of $200 a week.

"In the training room we have two teachers at all times. Their lessons are submitted to Penn Foster by Internet and will be graded immediately.

"We have what we call slide on, slide off. A person can join this programme any day, any week, any month. It is a very flexible programme. We can take a person who comes through the door in the first week of September as much as we can take a person who comes the first week of November."

For more information on the Technical Skills Centre, call 295 0568.