courses in information technology.

Experts from the US universities of Stanford and Virginia were on the Island last week to present seminars and talks on how youngsters will benefit from the use of information technology.

And the team of experts also met with teachers from CedarBridge Academy and Berkeley Institute to map out a curriculum for both schools to begin teaching in September.

Selected teachers from the two schools will go through a rigorous computer training programme in the summer to prepare them for classes at the beginning of the next academic year.

The basic curriculum will cover essential technological hardware, software and programming concepts involving state of the art application of information technology.

It is hoped that, once the course is integrated into the schools curriculum, students graduating from Bermuda's public schools will achieve a high level of computer and technological literacy.

Opening the fair, which was attended by Premier Jennifer Smith said: "I urge all senior students and parents to attend this exciting event.

"They will be as impressed as I was to learn of the scope and quality of the underlying IT programme and the pedigree of the professionals behind it.

"The fair is a great opportunity to gain a better understanding of how IT will impact the future education of our children.'' The programme has been sponsored by insurance giants XL Capital Ltd. under the company's education initiative along with the Ministry of Education in a bid to provide the Island's public school students with sound computer skills.

Bright future : Eight-year-old Jeremy Fox (right) is shown the ropes by XL Education Initiative coordinator Brian Warren while the company's chief information officer Ellen lim looks on at last weekend's IT Fair.