Technical education will be introduced at middle schools if the Progressive Labour Party wins the General Election, Education Minister Randolph Horton said yesterday.

Expanding on brief details mentioned in last month's Throne Speech, Mr. Horton said technical programmes in senior school would also be enhanced, while consideration would be given to setting up a technical vocational school.

Technical education has been a topic for debate in recent months, with Shadow Education Minister Grant Gibbons saying this summer that the Island had "dropped the ball" as there were fewer than 100 technical education students at Bermuda College and more than 400 sent overseas by the National Training Board.

In a speech outside Bermuda College yesterday, Mr. Horton said: "As a former teacher and principal, nothing satisfies me more than the knowledge that this Government is about getting the job done and ensuring that our students will have a system that fully prepares them for the challenges of the 21st Century global environment, that provides them with the necessary tools which they will need to compete successfully not only in Bermuda but worldwide."

The Minister also said eight Government scholarships awarded each year by the Ministry would now be full scholarships.

He said mature student and teacher training awards would be increased from $10,000 to $15,000 and education awards from $7,500 to $10,000, while the cap on interest free loans would go from $7,500 to $10,000.

Mr. Horton reiterated the PLP's commitment to re-engineering the public system by implementing recommendations in the damning Hopkins Report.

"The core task, of course, has been to ensure that the curriculum is one that is rigorous and raises the bar throughout the various academic levels," said the Minister.

"We firmly believe that this is a critical task which will provide the foundation upon which the success of our efforts and that of our students, both now and in the future, will depend."

Former CedarBridge Academy teacher Dean Foggo, who is defending his St. George's West seat against the United Bermuda Party's Kim Swan, joined Mr. Horton at the press conference.

"I'm in support of the initiatives that our Minister has put forward today," said Mr. Foggo.