Bermuda's first ever teacher training course is to become a permanent fixture, Education and Development Minister Paula Cox has revealed.

The Minister said the year-long course underway at Bermuda College had proved so successful, she expected it to be available indefinitely.

Some 36 student teachers began the part-time course in September last year, and to date, only five have dropped out.

The remainder will be assigned to schools around the Island, where they will gain practical experience under the guidance of qualified teachers, before they go on to sit exams this summer.

It is then hoped that they will be eligible to teach in Bermuda's schools later this year.

The course has been set up in partnership with Wheelock College in Boston. Although the students remain in Bermuda, the course work, and the standards set, are part of Wheelock's teacher training programme.

It is the first time people in Bermuda have had an opportunity to become qualified teachers without going overseas.

As the course is held at weekends and in the evenings, it enables students to continue with their present job until they are able to switch careers and join a school full-time.

Ms Cox said: "There is a commitment to the Wheelock programme. I think the aim is to refine and improve it, but I think there is certainly enthusiasm among the teacher training population and I think it's helpful to have an accredited group come in and provide that on site.

"I would like to see this sort of template mirrored in other areas."

As for the coming year's course, she said the Ministry of Education had already received a number of inquiries about availability.

The Minister added: "There have been a number of people interested. People are keen because I think you find that many are saying that from the affordability aspect, it's good to know there is a mechanism to do their training here."

And she said she hoped the course would help to fill the teacher shortage on the Island, too.

However, she said the course would prove to be no walk-over for students.

"It's very demanding, and while we hope to have a good success ratio, there is no guarantee that the people who students are sitting beside today will all have the same measure of success," added Ms Cox.