Government is prepared to spend more than $120 million to improve the public school system, Education Minister Jerome Dill told Hamilton Lions yesterday.

After bringing the group up to date on education reform plans, Mr. Dill said: "We have committed $120 million to restructuring. That figure in all likelihood will be exceeded. And we are committed to continue to find the funds. It is expensive. But it is more expensive in terms of the social costs if we don't.'' The Deputy Premier pointed out human resources would be the most precious commodity in the upcoming century and education was the most important "medium'' through which human resources developed.

"Now, more than ever, the zeal to improve and the adaptability, or ingenuity, that have long been the hallmark of Bermuda are needed to address educational issues facing us towards the millennium,'' he said.

Stressing schools would have a multi-cultural curriculum, Mr. Dill said: "Our expectation is that we will have a more equitable classroom environment where every child sees himself or herself in the curriculum.

"Although developing a multi-cultural curriculum takes time and patience, students should benefit significantly from this effort.'' He said current high school students would finish the Bermuda Secondary School Certificate programme in September 1997.

"It is the students who enter in September 1999 who will embark on a new curriculum,'' he added.

All students would have the option of participating in the full range of courses available at the new school.

He noted that both French and Spanish, all sciences, a full range of business studies and design and technology courses will be offered at Cedarbridge.

"Needlework will shift its focus to fashion and design,'' he explained.

"Consumer education will be added to the family studies curriculum, and an integrated design and technology programme will be offered to secondary three students who currently must take separate subjects such as woodwork or motor mechanics.'' Mr. Dill pointed out the curriculum in the senior school programme would be "much more extensive and consistent than now is the case, providing all students with equal opportunity to learn through a much wider variety of courses''.

"This will be the case both in the improved BSSC programme next September and in the restructured senior school curriculum which begins to be phased in one year at a time in 1999,'' he added.

When asked about Government's financial commitment to education after reform, Mr. Dill said: "This is the largest single project this Government has ever undertaken. We cannot afford to spend money now and then neglect this. The focus has to be that teachers are trained and facilities are maintained.'' EDUCATION ED