computer education in the public school system.

The XL Education Initiative for Bermuda -- developed in conjunction with Stanford University -- is aimed at providing computer expertise to all students in Bermuda's public school system.

Education Minister Tim Smith, who co-chairs XL Steering Committee, announced the XL Initiative's new project to involve parents in the public school computer programme.

"The Parent Involvement Program or PIP will reach out to the parents of school-age children to explain the impending computer education programme and parents' important role in its success,'' Mr. Smith said.

The forums will bring together the parents of school-age children to learn about the XL Initiative, ask questions and, talk about the role they would like to play in new information technologies.

The idea for the PIP came, in part, from research conducted by XL Chief Information Officer and XL Steering Committee Co-chair Ellen Lim.

She noted that: "Community participation or lack thereof has been decisive in the success or failure of high-tech education programs in other island nations. Parents are the most powerful force in any community and therefore vital to the XL Initiative's success.'' Mr. Smith said United Bermuda Party veteran Quinton Edness, "whose idea to offer computer education to Bermuda students gave rise to the XL Initiative'', will lead the PIP.

The first forum will be held within the next few weeks, he added. Each forum will be conducted by members of the recently appointed Teacher Readiness Team (TRT), the XL Steering Committee and Mr. Edness.