In an inspirational and emotional speech, Senate president Albert Jackson yesterday sent a strong message to St. George's Secondary School students that education is paramount to the Island's future.

Mr. Jackson, guest speaker at the school's final prize giving day, was the institution's first principal back in 1955 when it opened on Old Military Road.

How appropriate that buildings once used a residences for members of the British forces, there to help protect Bermuda when it was very much a colony, would be converted to a place for education, he told the school's prize winners, their parents and their teachers.

"The purpose of that land was defence, protecting the welfare of this Country. it was appropriate and proper for some of those buildings to be converted. The buildings had to be adapted but the message is important,'' he said.

"I hope you young people appreciate when that purpose was established -- to serve the needs of British troops -- it was for the defence of Bermuda.

"Lets convert that to education being the defence of Bermuda. Your reason for going (to school) was to grow and develop talents, to become useful members of the community. This now is the message of defence of Bermuda.'' Students must shoulder responsibility and advantage of education which leads to individual growth and ultimately the continued well-being of the community, he said.

"If you fail, our country could be in jeopardy and in danger.'' Mr. Jackson also said that the year he took the helm of St. George's Secondary, it was a turning point in the history of education in Bermuda.

"At that time it was determined that there had to be a broader opportunity for education for all children. Before 1955, not many children got the advantage of a second stage of formal education.'' The Education Act at that time required all children be registered in primary school by age seven and they had to remain in school until age 13, he said.

"St. George's was the first school labelled a secondary school which made it possible for parents who wanted children to go on without having to pass an entrance exam. From that beginning in 1955, other institutions were added.

"That was 42 years ago. Today we are on the threshold of another major development in education,'' he said.

St. George's Secondary School, which recently re-located to St. David's Road, will become a middle school this September with the opening of the Cedarbridge Academy.