Visiting Cayman Islands' educators yesterday gave Bermuda's method of restructuring the public school system the thumbs up.

And Executive Council Member (Minister) for Education in the British colony, the Hon. Truman Bodden told The Royal Gazette he wished the Cayman Islands had taken its time, like Bermuda, when it implemented its middle school system nine years ago.

The Cayman Islands, like Bermuda, is working on reforming its school system in order to produce better-prepared young people for university or the working world which is dominated by tourism and international business.

But up until six months ago Cayman education officials had abolished the middle school system which they said had failed miserably and they were planning to go back to the basic British education system of primary schools for children from five to 12 and secondary school for those from 12 to 16 or 18 years.

However, Mr. Bodden, who held the top education post from 1976 to 1984 and returned six months ago, suspended plans by the former Education Minister of the islands and he began consulting with PTA executives of middle schools for feedback on what they thought was best for their children.

The consultation process is still going on, Mr. Bodden said, adding that a decision on future plans for the school system was expected by year end.

"But in my view it (the middle school concept) has worked,'' he said. "And the public has been nearly unanimous in favour of it because young children are separated from the older ones and therefore we avoid problems of drugs and other problems associated with older students.

"It also allows a transition stage from primary school where there is one teacher for almost all subjects to high school where students have many teachers. And it allows one to enrich the syllabus as well.'' But Mr. Bodden and Cayman Islands' chief education officer Miss Andrea Bryan said the middle schools did not work because there was a lack of preliminary work and they were created for administrative convenience.

"I think the (former Education) Minister probably tried to do in one year what should take five to seven years,'' Mr. Bodden said.

"Preliminary work with constant feedback as changes are implemented, such as what is being done here, would have made the process easier,'' Miss Bryan added.

"The lesson we have learned is that it is better to go slow and do it right,'' Mr. Bodden said, "because although we have done it fast, we really did not have the detailed implementation phase to carry it through effectively as you now have.'' Miss Bryan also said by reforming the school system slowly, the necessary resources would be available as the changes are implemented.

"I was very impressed with your new (Education) Minister,'' Mr. Bodden added.

"He is very methodical and appears to be very capable and in control of where you're heading.'' Both Mr. Bodden and Miss Bryan said they were also impressed with Bermuda's Child Development programme and the Bermuda Secondary School Certificate school-leaving exam.

The educators, including head of the Community College of Cayman Islands Mr.

Sam Basdeo, his wife Joy who is education principal secretary, and deputy principal of Cayman Islands' John Gray High School Mrs. Nyda Flatley, were also impressed with Bermuda College's 22-acre Stonington campus which they toured yesterday.

JOB WELL DONE -- Visiting Cayman Islands educators praised Education Minister the Hon. Clarence Terceira and Bermuda's handling of education reform during a visit this week. The group also enjoyed an extensive tour of the Bermuda College Stonington campus. Pictured (from left) are college president Dr.

George Cooke, deputy principal of John Gray High School in Cayman Islands Mrs.

Nyda Flatley, Dr. Terceira, Cayman Islands' education principal secretary Mrs.

Joy Basdeo, chief education officer Miss Andrea Bryan, Education Minister the Hon. Truman Bodden, local education permanent secretary Dr. Marion Robinson, and Community College of Cayman Islands principal Mr. Sam Basdeo.