million education budget will be spent this year -- announcing $581,000 for the CADET programme.

She said additional funds had been allocated to provide for both programmes and capital projects, in a bid to improve learning in the public system.

She said: "Bermuda's most valuable resources are her people and I believe the funds provided for education will provide our greatest and most valuable returns.'' One of the major allocations went to the Government's alternative school, the Centre for Adolescent, Development, Education and Training (CADET), which caters for pupils with behavioural or special needs.

Many educators have been concerned for its future after it was put under review last year. They said it was too vital to be lost in Bermuda altogether.

It had to move from its base at Warwick Camp last year, so the Education Ministry took the opportunity to review how well it had been operating.

It has been running at a reduced rate at another location while a committee carried out studies into its successes and failings.

As a result, Government aims to give greater involvement to the community as to how it should be run, where it should be run, and what the criteria should be.

It is hoped that it will be up and running properly by September this year.

Programmes receiving additional funding include a new and restructured primary school curriculum, extending the reduction in class sizes to primary three, offering information technology instruction to teachers and principals, the literacy initiative, and the school improvement programme.

Capital projects include the conclusion of the middle school programme, which will see the Island's five middle school campuses standardised, safety and security upgrades, and the completion of access improvements at primary schools.

However, the construction of the new Berkeley Institute will be the major project this year, with an allocation in 2001 of $14.7 million.

The Premier said: "The success of an education system depends on several factors, not least of which is the quality of the staff, standards and measurement of the outcomes to ensure accountability, and the involvement of the public and all stakeholders in the process.'' And she said not only was Government installing two computers and a printer in every primary one, two and three class, but funding had been made available this year to rewire and upgrade wiring as needed in all schools to ensure they have the capability of delivering a technology infused curriculum.

The Premier also said there had been an increase this year in the funding for grants, scholarships and awards, including teacher training grants, to enable and encourage more people on the Island to continue their education.

Premier speaks out on education allocation A budget of $634,000 has been made available for the purchase of new text books for primary and middle schools, and included in this budget is the provision for new science materials for younger pupils.

However, more than $3 million has been set aside for the Government's Inclusion Programme, Reading Recovery and Literacy Initiatives, Behaviour Management and School Psychologists.

The Premier also revealed yesterday that a report on middle schools had shown that teacher expectations were too low, the curriculum was overly full, technology resources needed updating, and more community involvement was needed.

She said: "In response to the report, an action plan for our middle schools has been drafted and sets out the action to be taken by the Ministry of Education and middle schools.

"By working together, we can make the changes that are needed. We ask for the active support of parents and the community as a whole to help us to achieve the success that our students deserve so that Bermuda can indeed build a world-class education system.'' Information technology has received an investment of $1 million, and school safety $985,000.

General administration has been awarded $7.3 million.