system is pleased with the progress made so far.

New Education Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira disclosed this fact after a weekend meeting with the Education Planning Team for the first time.

The team, made up of 28 members from a broad cross-section of the community, came together for its fourth annual update on the status of recommendations it made in 1988.

And both Dr. Terceira and Education Permanent Secretary Dr. Marion Robinson described the two-day session as "productive''.

In addition to reconfirming its mission statement and strategies, the EPT analysed all the accomplishments -- both internally and externally -- made in education over the past school year.

Dr. Terceira said the team was especially pleased to hear that policies for the enactment of the new Education Act were in the hands of the Attorney General.

The new Act, which will primarily reflect EPT recommendations, will recognise the introduction of middle schools, the establishment of school boards and of the senior secondary level including an additional year of schooling, and the integration of special needs children in regular schools.

Dr. Terceira said he would like to present the legislation to Parliament sometime after Christmas.

The EPT, which has three new members -- Bermuda College vice president Mrs.

Solange Saltus who is the facilitator, lawyer Mr. Nigel Howcroft, and accountant Mr. Scott Hunter -- also heard: A curriculum for pre-schools has been completed and the Ministry is looking for facilities to accommodate additional pre-schoolers; The recommendation for two years of pre-school education is under consideration; Guidelines and procedures to identify "at-risk pupils'' in Primary One have been developed by Student Services staff and the procedures are expected to be piloted and evaluated in selected schools from November; The Writing to Read programme is in all primary schools now, with only one school -- Port Royal -- in need of a room for the programme; Architectural planning is underway for the senior schools and middle schools.

The middle school and senior school guides have been completed and the boundaries of the 19.4 acre site for the senior school campus at Prospect have been approved; All members of the Implementation team are in place, except the curriculum coordinator who is expected to be appointed shortly; A review of the establishment of the Education Department is nearly complete.

Advertising for two senior education officers responsible for the supervision of principals will take place shortly; A total of 110 teachers, from all levels of the system, are serving on 13 curriculum development committees and a 11-member steering committee will oversee the operation of these committees and will advise the Minister on policy matters associated with curriculum development; Alternative procedures to ensure regular attendance will be developed by Student Services staff during the next school year; Dr. Robinson said former EPT facilitator Dr. George Cook, who is now Bermuda College president, said he believed the update had received the most positive reaction from the team.

"They felt the impetus was there,'' Dr. Terceira added, "and I think our own staff also felt so. It certainly made me feel good as the new (education) Minister.''