citizen Bermuda wants in its community.

Speaking in the House of Assembly of Friday, Minister of Education the Hon.

Clarence Terceira said the curriculum aims to provide people with knowledge and skills recently recommended by the Task Force on Employment.

Goals include preparing young children to be lifelong learners, to have excellent communication and mathematical skills, to be able to adapt to change and to make healthy choices about their lifestyles.

Also students should understand the importance of the family and the community and to be concerned not only about their personal interest, but also about the common welfare of the community.

Dr. Terceira said: "For many people restructuring our education system means renovating buildings and constructing a new senior school at Prospect. I wish to emphasise that improvements to the curriculum are an essential part of preparations for the restructuring.

"I wish to emphasise also that it is teachers in our system and staff of my Ministry who are directing developments in curriculum.

"I am pleased that a number of persons from the community have agreed to work with educators to identify the kinds of knowledge and skills which they believe Bermudians will need for the 21st Century.'' Dr. Terceira pointed out that a committee was set up in 1990 to develop guidelines for technology education in middle and senior schools. And shortly the Ministry will employ a person experienced with the latest developments in technology to help teachers develop curriculums in schools.

Referring to the development of curriculum in specific subjects, he said: "Twelve committees consisting of more than 100 teachers are working on the curriculum for specific subject areas which extend from preschool right through to the senior school level.'' The areas are: mathematics, science, social studies, English, foreign languages, business studies, information technology, family studies, design and technology, fine arts, performing arts and physical and health education.

Dr. Terceira said: "I am confident that with the commitment of teachers and staff of my Ministry, who make it their business to keep up-to-date with the most recent developments in curriculum, we will have a first-class curriculum for our students.

"It will be a curriculum which develops them no only academically, but personally and socially.'' (See Page 6 for more on Friday's House of Assembly debate.)