Teachers are returning to class after school hours to study the Portuguese language and culture.

While school officials have not yet decided on whether Portuguese will be included in the new public school system, Education Officer for Foreign Languages Lydia Perinchief this week told The Royal Gazette educators were working to develop better insight into the Portuguese community.

The Education Department does not keep statistics on race. But most of the Island's schools have Portuguese students.

And Ms Perinchief said educators were "sensitive to the needs'' of the Portuguese community.

Some 20 of them have already completed the Portuguese introductory course taught on Tuesday nights, from 5.15 to 7.15 p.m., by head of the Portuguese Bermudian Association Anna Faria.

And another 18 -- including principals, primary and secondary teachers and teacher assistants -- have enrolled so far.

The eight-week course, held in the Education Department's offices above the Youth Library on Church Street, covers a "little bit of everything'', including Portuguese history and celebrations.

Ms Faria said: "It basically helps to build sensitivity to the Portuguese situation in Bermuda.'' "The teachers also receive information that they can take into the classrooms,'' she added. "I find the interest in the culture is high.'' And Ms Perinchief, who noted that more teachers would have signed up for the course if time permitted, agreed.

"They are very positive,'' she said about the participants. "It certainly has given them more of an insight into the Portuguese culture and some of the problems that Portuguese parents and students face.

"Anna brings in all kinds of paraphernalia so we can see what she's talking about and transfer that to the class. They will go back and do songs with them in Portuguese.'' All of the teachers volunteered for the course which is 80-percent language and 20-percent culture, Ms Perinchief added.

"No one is proficient in Portuguese, but it is a start,'' she said. "Now we can communicate in simpler terms.

"It means we have a few more people in our education system who can communicate with our Portuguese community.

"The teachers are very sensitive to the Portuguese community, this is just one way they can make a difference.'' And Ms Faria said the difference was already evident.

"I've already gotten feedback from a few parents and students,'' Mrs. Faria said. "It means a lot to them. Even being able to say good evening or good morning to parents who don't speak English makes a big difference.'' If there was enough interest in an intermediate course after the second group completed the introductory course, an intermediate course would be offered.

She added, "Through time I believe it will be taught in schools. As things progress I'm hoping these words will become true.''