The Bermuda College has many positive initiatives in the pipeline, including mandatory classes bringing high school students up to scratch, Government senator Walter Roban announced on Wednesday.

However independent senator and Senate President Alf Oughton said the College should not be playing ?catch-up?. ?It?s obvious where the problem is,? he said, citing figures from the Budget showing only 29 percent of students in public schools pass maths.

Saying he was unaware of anywhere else in the world where a College held special classes for students just to get them to entry-level, Sen. Oughton said the College?s only role should be ?what it is there for, to be a first-class college?.

However Sen. Roban also blasted The Royal Gazette, saying this newspaper reported only part of a speech that College president Charles Green made at Hamilton Rotary several weeks ago, neglecting to mention the aforesaid classes and classes specifically targeting adults.

An editorial run later appeared to be based only on the part of the speech announcing that students were not qualified to enter the College, he said.

Speaking during the Motion to Adjourn after yesterday?s Education Budget debate, Sen. Roban added: ?Perhaps the Gazette needs a little encouragement, and we won?t see discouraging editorials.?