four decades.

Education Minister the Hon. Gerald Simons confirmed that the 1954 Education Act which preceded racial integration in schools will be replaced next year.

The announcement was made in Friday's Throne Speech.

He said the Act will be replaced instead of amended because "it would make it easier to understand certain concepts that we plan to introduce''.

Government plans to totally restructure the public school system by September, 1995.

The reforms include doing away with most public secondary schools and creating five middle schools, two senior secondary schools, and integrating special students into regular schools.

In the Throne Speech, Government said: "While there is already much to be proud of in our education system, the demands we will face in the 21st Century have reinforced the need for a restructuring of our system.

"Government remains committed to its plans to provide a curriculum that is relevant to the needs of the Island; to providing professional development to prepare teachers to deliver the curriculum in a well-motivated, dynamic manner and to responding to the personal and social needs of students and to improving the facilities of Bermuda's schools.

"The plans for education reform are well underway and will be supported by the introduction of a new Education Act.'' Mr. Simons said the new Act will spell out the divisions of the reformed school system, that is, preschool, primary, middle, and senior secondary.

The present Act is only divided according to primary, secondary and special schools.

The new Education Act will also "codify'' the national curriculum which already exists, Mr. Simons.

He expects to table the Act some time in 1993.