A radical overhaul of Bermuda's education system was suggested by Bermuda Union of Teachers Vice President Joann B Adams at an education forum last night.

She suggesting following systems used in Belgium and France, where parents can choose which school their children attend which forces the schools into competition.

Grants are tied to the number of pupils at each school, said Ms Adams, who added the public system here was producing students without the basic skills.

The radical system requires both private and public schools to observe a minimum curriculum for accreditation, explained Ms Adams. If a student leaves a school the money follows the student. She told educators and parents at Bermuda College: "If a school does not deliver families seek a better school elsewhere. If too many students leave, the school faces closure."

The shake-up would provide a powerful incentive for administrators and teachers to maintain well-operated schools and continually improve on the service they deliver.

She said tertiary institutes, colleges and universities were all used to fighting for students.

"The pursuit of excellence in order to be the school of choice could make Bermuda schools improve their product and provide a better education market for all of us."

Spelling out the problems facing Bermuda's schools, Ms Adams said: "Why is it that our students are not measuring up to the standards set up for them?

"Why do we find our youth lack interest and motivation in themselves and in their education?"

Taking exams which were only recognised locally could backfire, she said. "When the rest of the world is banding together as teams or regional groups in economic pursuits, we, a microcosm globally, should not try to single ourselves out and go it alone."

Former Teachers union leader Colin Benbow agreed, saying it was better to have foreign exams so Bermudian students could shape up with the rest of the world. And the pair agreed that there had been too many changes in the education system.

Mr. Benbow said children had been jerked around as everything had been tried, including teaching French to children who were struggling with English and teaching science to 12-year-olds.

Bermuda College President Dr. Michael Orenduff said a greater emphasis needed to be placed on technical education so the Island would not have to rely on work permit holders having all the expertise.

He said the education system could not fail anyone in a place where the labour pool was so limited. He said: "I don't want to give up on anybody."

However, the College would not be offering a Baccalaureate degrees, said Mr. Orenduff because it would take too many resources for too few people.