the Bermuda College.

The newly formed Education Centre is headed by Bermudian Gina Tucker who explained its necessity.

"The centre is a Government-funded neutral entity which will serve as a centralised resource centre for us to pool resources and spearhead national initiatives on literacy,'' she said.

Dr. Tucker will present her plans and ideas for the centre at a panel discussion tonight at the Bermuda College. The public forum, which has been organised to spark interest and discussion on literacy in Bermuda, will also feature short presentations from two visiting professionals Barbara Given and Rita Dunn.

Dr. Given, of George Mason University, is considered an expert on the problems associated with reading. She will offer methods and advice on how learning disabilities such as dyslexia can be tackled.

Dr. Dunn, who heads the Centre for the Study of Learning and Teaching Styles at St. John's University, New York, will offer her expertise on adapting teaching methods to suit the differing learning styles of children.

Literacy statistics just revealed by the Ministry of Education will be examined by Janet Kemp of the Reading Clinic. Dr. Kemp will talk about how children were able to fall through the cracks in the school system and she will offer practical advice on how the problem can be rectified.

Tonight's forum has been organised by the Bermuda National Education Council.

It is free to the public and takes place at 7.30 p.m. in the teleconference room in South Hall at the College.

FLOODING CAUSES DAMAGE BUC WEA Flooding causes damage Torrential downpours caused flooding to businesses and houses across the Island yesterday as more than half the monthly average rainfall came down in a day.

Worried residents and business people called the fire service out to deal with flooding at a total of eight homes and commercial premises.

Mark Guishard, of the Bermuda Weather Service, said three inches of rain fell between 6.30 a.m. and 3 p.m.. The average monthly rainfall for October is 5.99 inches.

A Fire Service spokesman said firefighters were called to reports of flooding at homes in Camp Hill, Southampton, Church Lane off North Shore Road, Pembroke, and Mill Reach Lane, Pembroke.

They were also called to Pembroke Parish to Woodlands Playhouse Nursery, and a building near the Cycle Centre, on Woodlands Road, a small store on St. John's Road, and to Harvey Enterprises and St. Paul's Nursery on Victoria Street.

The downpour slowed up dramatically between 3 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. yesterday when just 0.1 inches fell.

Mr. Guishard said: "So far this year we have had 38.39 inches of rain, which is under our average yearly total to date of 40.76 inches.

"We are still slightly under our yearly average to date but the rain today has brought us closer to that. We've had a few dry months this year, but are getting closer to the average.'' Mr. Guishard said the highest daily rainfall ever recorded in October was 5.24 inches, and the heaviest downpour in the Island's history was in June 1996 when 7.77 inches fell in a day.

The bad weather front has moved away which should lead to clear skies today with a few lingering showers.

EDUCATION ED