A passionate plea was made to the community on Friday night to restore the Berkeley Institute to an institution of academic excellence.

The call was made during the official opening ceremony of the school, which was attended by Premier Alex Scott, Members of Parliament and former and present students. Sitting under huge tents, with the school colours green and gold prominently displayed, those gathered heard speaker after speaker challenge parents, teachers and alumni to work together so that Berkeley can reclaim its rightful place as the high school of choice in Bermuda.

Guest speaker, Lt. Col. Edward Lamb, said parents, teachers and students must support and have confidence in the public education system, specifically the Berkeley Institute:

?Help me understand how we can work in the education system and send our children to private schools,? he said.

?Help me understand how we can claim to be proud graduates of Berkeley and send our children to private schools.?

Lt. Col. Lamb ? the Prisons Commissioner-designate and a Berkeleyite ? said he believed a child?s mind was a ?fire to be lit? and he challenged teachers to ?light some fires in our children?.

Another guest speaker, Nikkita Scott, spoke of the importance of an educated society.

?Quality education provides members of our society with the tools to develop our individual capacities and to function effectively as members of our community,? he said. ?Uneducated Bermudians are and will continue to be disconnected from economic and social progress.?

The Berkeley Institute first opened its doors 109 years ago and the Berkeleyite Premier said the dreams and hopes of the founding fathers of the school will never be forgotten.

Mr. Scott told those gathered: ?I have suggested, and the Cabinet and the Board of Governors have both agreed, that there be put in place an eternal flame ? a point of unending light and enlightenment so that all will come to know that the torch lit by our founding fathers is omnipresent, forever with us, and we should vow never, never to let it go.?

Education Minister Neletha Butterfield said she was proud that Government had been able to provide high quality educational facilities for the young people of Bermuda.

?I am proud that public education now has two modern senior secondary schools equipped with state-of-the art equipment and well-trained, committed and dedicated teachers,? she said.

An Olympic-style torch relay kicked off the official opening ceremony and the Berkeley Institute Jazz Ensemble, the Bermuda Regiment Band and the Berkeley Institute Dance Troupe provided entertainment.