CULINARY students wishing to pursue the second year of their Bermuda College programme will be able to do so, the College says.

Last week the Mid-Ocean News incorrectlyreported that the second half of the two-year culinary arts programme had been scrapped after all but one of the students in the first year had dropped out.

But a College spokeswoman denied that claim, saying that a number of students were now starting the second year of the course.

"The second-year programme has not been cancelled and there are currently a number of students who will be completing second year models throughout the year.

"In addition, the College, in a new career exploration partnership with Mount St. Agnes Academy, recently accepted 12 senior high students into a basic programme that would give students the opportunity to be able to preview the industry with hands-on activities covering kitchen safety, nutrition, hygiene, knife-handling skills, cooking methods and techniques and preparing appetisers, main courses and desserts.

"Those students who wish to continue their studies at the College after passing the basic course successfully will have the opportunity to earn college-level credits while still attending the high school and get a head start in the culinary arts programme."

The spokeswoman, responding to claims made by island restaurateurs that there was a shortage of Bermudian chefs, acknowledged that the number of students enrolling in the programme had been low.

But referring to this year's intake, she added: "We think these figures speak well to the recent resurgence of interest in the field. Recently renovated and fully-equipped kitchens at the College have been completed to accommodate renewed interest in the apprenticeship programme.

"The culinary arts are not dead at Bermuda College or on the island. It is coming back with a vengeance and this College is prepared to meet it head on."