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Island makes strides in education

Bermuda's population is much more educated today than it was in 1991 with 20 percent of residents now holding university degrees, according to the newly released census.

But the local education system is seriously split with three-quarters of white students in private schools while three-quarters of black students are educated in the Government system.

And private school numbers are soaring as parents increasingly pull their children from government schools as they approach senior school age.

The larger education picture is rosy, however.

Over the last decade, the number of individuals reporting senior school as their highest level of education fell six percent while the number of university degree holders jumped nine percent.

"The aspiration to acquire further education is heightened by the awareness of the importance of education, expanding employment opportunities and the correlation between education and income," the census report noted.

"This quest for higher education is also in response to labour market demands for more professional and technical qualifications.

More non-Bermudians hold degrees proportionally than non-Bermudians as there was a leap of 13 percent in the number of non-Bermudians with a university education.

Thirty-eight percent of non-Bermudians held degrees in 2000 against 15 percent of Bermudians.

The number of black Bermudians holding degrees rose sharply from 1,730 to 2,844 since 1991.

Meanwhile, the proportion of blacks without academic certification dropped 10 percentage points to 34 percent.

The inspiration to attain higher education is clearly linked to higher earner power with those holding Bachelor's degrees earning almost double ($54,488) the income of those without formal certificates ($28,256).

Earning power continued to rise with Master's degree holders earning $63,834 and Ph.D.'s $75,710 on average.

But students are more likely to be preparing for university in private schools than ever before.

There was an overall decline in the number of students enrolled in the public school system from 77 percent to 62 percent in the past decade.

"Parents opted increasingly for private education for all levels of schooling," the report said, "but, government senior schools were chosen even less often than public primary and middle schools."

Only 55 percent of students attended government senior schools while 66 percent attend public primary schools and 64 percent the middle schools.

Over 75 percent of black children and 60 percent of mixed children are in the Government system however.

While only 12 percent of white students attend government senior schools, 21 percent are sent overseas to receive this level of education.

The bulk of white students are educated in the private schools in Bermuda.