cutting-edge technology will be outlined at a huge "IT Fair'' this month.

And XL Education Initiative organisers say the "dynamic technology-infused curriculum'' could be in place at some schools in time for the start of the school year in September.

But they stressed it was vital all parents attended the Fair to see how their children would eventually be affected or could benefit.

Premier Jennifer Smith has appointed Senator Patrice Parris as her representative on the project's steering committee with XL's chief information officer Ellen Lim.

The Initiative, funded by XL Capital Ltd., has gathered speed since it was announced last November and plans are under way to have two Information Technology labs built at CedarBridge and the Berkeley Institute.

World leaders in both technology and education are assisting to formulate the curriculum and train teachers for the programme.

Children to get lessons in technology The programme is expected to be a model for the rest of the world.

Ms Lim, who leads the project steering committee said the course should begin at CedarBridge and Berkeley in September for a "test year'' then spread to other schools and grade levels.

She said as well as parents, students, teachers and Education Department officials, businesses in Bermuda should attend the March 20 Fair at CedarBridge Academy's Ruth Seaton James Auditorium.

She said XL had a "big, big roll-out plan'' for the programme and it was expected that the Premier, Jennifer Smith, would open the 10 a.m. fair.

XL has just signed up a team from the University of Virginia's Curry Centre for Technology and Teacher Education to develop the teacher-training and professional development component. The Curry School specialises in working with other institutions to develop technology-infused curricula and is committed to developing exemplary and innovative ways to ensure teachers are up to scratch with technology.

Experts from their team will collaborate with a Stanford University unit who visited Bermuda in November to begin work on the curriculum by meeting with a core group of teachers.

EDUCATION ED