problems has been declared a success by Education Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira.

The project, developed by the Coalition for the Protection of Children, was introduced in three Bermuda schools and Dr. Terceira said he hoped to see it extended to schools Islandwide by 1995.

The Minister said the project was a response to an increasing number of reports of aggressive behaviour among schoolchildren. Schools, he said, were facing more problems with violence than in the past.

The project, called "peer mediation and conflict resolve,'' aims to show students, parents and teachers more positive ways of dealing with everyday problems encountered both inside and outside the classroom.

The project has been in operation at Southampton Glebe, Francis Patton and St.

George's Secondary since last September. And teachers this week said they thought the programme had had a good effect.

"It has raised the self-esteem of our students and has led to a definite improvement in discipline,'' said Education officer Mrs. Joanne Smith.

"My feeling is that it will provide students and teachers with the tools needed to resolve conflict.'' Mrs. Angela Selini of Southampton Glebe said: "Teachers found that they wasted less time on petty conflicts and could actually get on with teaching.'' A report by Mrs. Sheelagh Cooper, who heads the Coalition for the Protection of Children, said a survey of students before and after the pilot project indicated a significant change in thinking.

Of the students who initially agreed with the statement: "If someone hits me I should just hit them back'', more than half changed their minds by the end of the project.

Dr. Terceira said: "Our aim is to train students to be the mediators and to talk out their problems. Mediating must become part of their lifestyle.''