Big business stepped up efforts to increase parents' participation in education yesterday, introducing a widened programme of Internet access.

Cable and Wireless joined a private sector collaboration with XL/Bermuda Education Initiative, that allows parents to check their CedarBridge student's grades on the Internet.

Parents can log onto the CedarBridge site at www.k12planet.com to find out their child's classroom performance, grades, attendance, conduct, assignments, homework and to contact the teachers directly.

The project began last November, but the affordability for home Internet access quickly became an issue.

A Cable and Wireless spokesperson said: "After being approached by the XL Education Initiative, (we) decided to provide ISP connectivity for Internet access from the school to the homes of the students along with free Internet access for the duration of the six months of the project.'' Through the efforts of a programme called Recycle IT Bermuda, 20 computers found their way into students' homes.

The programme, run by the Centre of Philanthropy and Initiatives Parent Involvement Programme, collects surplus corporate computers and refits the units which are put into Bermuda's charitable sector.

CedarBridge Deputy Principal, Winston Simon, said: "Here at CedarBridge Academy, we are embracing K12Planet.com and offering it to our community because we see its potential to bring teachers, parents and students together in closer collaboration.

"Making the demands of school life and continued study easier for the students and you as a concerned parents,'' he added.

Cable and Wireless General Manager Eddie Saints said: "Rapid growth in the Internet has increased the number of quality websites available to students and teachers, offering a vast number of educational resources.