Bermuda Regiment soldiers will soon be able to study for the equivalent of a high school diploma free of charge, thanks to a new initiative launched by the Ministry of Public Safety.

The Ministry already pays tuition fees for members of the Regiment who want to study courses at Bermuda College. But the latest scheme means those without basic English and maths will be able to benefit too.

Public Safety Minister David Burch announced the expansion of the Student Soldier Programme at a press conference on Wednesday at the Regiment?s Warwick Camp headquarters.

He said that Government had earmarked $100,000 in this year?s budget for the programme but that only $24,000 had so far been spent.

He added that it had become apparent that some soldiers could not participate in the scheme because they were not educated to the required level, prompting the decision to expand the programme to include a General Equivalency Diploma (GED).

?The desirable route is that all our children receive their high school diploma in the normal way ? through the free public education system ? but the reality is that many of our young people do not,? said Senator Burch.

?Therefore, a General Equivalency Diploma is a satisfactory alternative that will now be included in the programme.?

The Minister said the new course would be launched in September but that soldiers could already sign up. He said the Regiment needed to do a better job of advertising such opportunities to soldiers.

?I have challenged them to at least double participation for this upcoming year,? he said. ?We want to spend the whole $100,000 on members of the Regiment.?

Lieutenant Colonel William White, the Regiment?s commanding officer, said the scheme was an ideal way for soldiers to restart their education ? with the chance of going on to study at a higher level.

?It?s not compulsory and it?s for any rank, any individual that wishes to take advantage of it,? he said, adding that 13 soldiers had already signed up. New recruits to the Regiment were due to be given a presentation on the scheme last night.

Eugenie Simmons, the director of the college?s Centre for Professional and Career Education, which runs the scheme, said people throughout society, not just in the Regiment, were ?falling through the cracks? and failing to graduate.

She said the scheme was designed to support whatever gaps the soldiers had. ?It?s just one of many initiatives we have within the Regiment.?