Tumim.

And now Government is being urged to speed ahead with the proposed education shake-up.

It was crucial to provide a system which increased many youngsters' self-esteem, Judge Tumim stated "Many of those in Bermuda's prison facilities are either school drop-outs or those who did not have a positive school experience.'' Judge Tumim made his comments in his report on Bermuda's criminal justice system after reviewing it last year.

A special Cabinet committee has been set up to examine his recommendations.

In his report, Judge Tumim said: "It is through the educational system that Bermuda has the opportunity to try to reach and help young people to acquire skills, develop their potential and to stay on the right track.'' Judge Tumim found much to applaud in Bermuda's education system.

But he added: "Despite the outstanding educational gains, the disproportionate number of young black males in the prison system indicates that all is not well.

"The numbers being incarcerated may eventually contribute to the creation of a significant `underclass'.'' Admission to the Island's secondary schools is based primarily on the Secondary School Entrance Examination, Judge Tumim stated.

This, he claimed, had led to an unofficial "pecking order'' among the schools.

Some have become more popular than others, causing stigmatisation of those remaining, he said.

Many children have been unable to gain admission to the two "academic'' schools -- Berkeley Institute and Warwick Academy.

The result has been youngsters viewing themselves, and being regarded by others, as "rejects''.

"The system of secondary school selection has been particularly unfair to late developers, and to boys who generally mature much slower than girls,'' said Judge Tumim.

"Research in developmental psychology has suggested that children of the same age can show considerable difference on the speed and timing of their physical, cognitive and emotional development.

"The perpetuation of the selective system has undoubtedly been a contributing factor to the poor self-esteem suffered by many of those who have `fallen through the cracks' and find themselves involved in some aspect of the criminal justice system.'' Judge Tumim said his review team heard evidence that a disproportionate number of students from four secondary schools -- two of which have now closed -- became involved in delinquency and crime.

"We are inclined to question the contribution the educational system is inadvertently making to crime statistics in Bermuda.'' Judge Tumim strongly backed the proposed education shake-up, which will lead to neighbourhood middle schools.

Under this system, youngsters will be able to go to the school in their neighbourhood, without taking an entrance exam.

This should tackle the problems caused by the selective secondary system, claimed Judge Tumim.

"Provided, however, that there will not be a departure of white and middle-class children from a restructured system.

"For that may ultimately mean a greater entrenchment of two school systems.

"A private one for whites and middle-class blacks, and a public system primarily for blacks.''