with just 148 people signing up for the first session back in 1980.

Now, 12 years and 35,000 people later, the scheme is being hailed as a spectacular success story.

People of all ages and from all walks of life have signed up for more than 170 different courses that include a wide variety of subjects ranging from basic maths and English, to computers, calligraphy and cake-decorating.

Outside the classroom, badminton, tennis, golf and the martial arts are firm favourites, with Women's Slimnastics taking top place as the most popular course of all.

"I am very proud of this programme and excited with the progress we've made,'' says Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs, the Hon. Leonard Gibbons, whose Ministry sponsors the scheme.

"Not only does it benefit people from the educational angle, but the recreational courses in particular bring people with common interests together, so social and cultural barriers are being crossed and people who probably wouldn't have met otherwise, are becoming friends.'' The concept of community education is not new. In Britain, for instance, for more than 50 years, the system of part-time study at low-cost evening classes has catered to new interests and hobbies, but academically has also provided a route out of the poverty trap for thousands of people.

Mr. Gibbons says that when the programme began, it was mostly expatriates who signed up, as they were already familiar with the scheme. "But now Bermudians seem to have taken it to their hearts and we get a great mix of people.'' The scheme started here as a result of the 1977 riots, when the subsequent Pitt Commission recommended that some type of educational programme for adults be instigated in the community.

This was when Mr. Henry Douglas stepped in. He says it was simply a coincidence that he had just returned from the US where he had spent the last 20 years teaching in the public schools system in Michigan, and specialising in decentralisation and community projects.

He became the first co-ordinator of Bermuda's pilot programme and has watched it mushroom to its diversified state today.

Now the programme uses three separate facilities, at Warwick Secondary School, St. George's, and Sandys Secondary. There are also five computer centres.

One of the outstanding features of community education is that full use can be made of existing, suitable buildings. This is one of the reasons why enrolment in any of the courses is relatively inexpensive. Mr. Douglas emphasises that the programme is non-profit making. There is a Community School Director in each school location.

"We only charge as much as we need to pay the instructors. As long as enough people sign up to cover that cost, we go ahead with the class.'' Students are surveyed in school to find out what subjects or hobbies they would like to see taught.

Mr. Douglas is the Regional Director of Community Education for Bermuda and the Caribbean Islands and represents these areas in the International Community Education Association.

As Mr. Gibbons points out, community education has gone international.

Recently, Mr. Douglas flew to London to attend an executive meeting of the world-wide body, which monitors progress and regional reports on member countries. As Trinidad came under his region, Mr. Douglas acted as overall director for the last world conference that was held on that island.

"Community education fills an important gap in the lives of our citizens.

Some people join recreational classes because they are lonely. It's a good way to make new friends. It's very popular with people who have retired and finally have the chance to take up new hobbies or spend time improving old ones. One of the most important aspects of our programme is that it helps people to upgrade their skills or to learn new ones.'' The programme, which, says Mr. Douglas, never stands still, is about to start a joint venture with the Bermuda College.

"This is designed to give assistance to people who do not have all the qualifications to enter Bermuda College. We are concentrating on the basics -- Maths and English and will be holding two-hour classes in these subjects, once or twice a week.'' Mr. Douglas has seen an increasing number of people switching from "leisure'' classes to more practical subjects since the onset of the recession, especially in the area of business studies, such as computers and word-processing.

"This last winter we put on special mini courses, geared particularly at people who were unemployed. This was in an effort to upgrade their skills. The classes were free and were very well supported. We had too many applicants for some of the courses, with 30 people or so in classes originally designed for 15.'' The community aspect of the programme has seen the launch of several schemes designed to encourage the neighbourhood process.

Mr. Douglas says that one of the aims is to get the community to help themselves. SNAP, which stands for Stimulating the Neighbourhood Process will assist groups in upgrading the quality of life in their own particular area. A pilot project is set to start soon, probably in Sandys parish.

Other successful schemes already undertaken include the Latch Key programme, which provides care and homework supervision for children after school, special clubs and programmes for senior citizens and youth group schemes, all of which have spread all over the Island.

"We never aim to run these things. Our object is to show people how to get them started and run them themselves,'' he says.

Another plan in the pipeline is the concept of a youth service bureau. This would work in conjunction with the judiciary system, trying to reach children who have had problems with school, or the law, in an effort to get them back into a school environment before a situation worsens beyond repair.

Registration for Fall Term, 1992 has already begun and classes commence the week beginning Monday, September 14.

COMMUNITY EDUCATOR -- Mr. Henry Douglas, coordinator of Bermuda's Community Education and Development Programme, is expecting a record number of applicants for the new Fall Term which starts on September 14.