Locals may be able to qualify as teachers without leaving the Island.

Bermuda College has announced that it plans to establish a Teacher Education Institute.

In conjunction with the Institute, an independent body for the teaching profession or a Teacher Certification Agency will be created.

This, the College pointed out, will require an Act of Parliament.

And while details remain sketchy, the college's Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs -- Donald Peters explained that the idea was in response to market demands for higher academic achievement, the restructuring of the public school system, and national pressure to improve teacher effectiveness and accountability.

All of Bermuda's teachers, he noted, are trained overseas by institutions and individuals who may not necessarily produce teachers with the cultural and teaching skills and sensitivities needed for effective practice in Bermuda's schools.

Because teachers play a critical role in the development of Bermuda's most important resource -- its children -- senior College officials reportedly believe that the College must assume the responsibility to participate in the preparation of the Island's teachers.

The College is seeking the assistance of several universities in developing the Institute.

When set up, the Institute will provide training, certification, resources and other research. It is anticipated that the training programmes will include substantial in-class instruction and significant distance education components via the Internet, satellite and other means.

Membership in the Teacher Certification Agency will be open to all teachers who are qualified to teach in Bermuda, which would be a requirement for maintaining a teacher's certification.

It will also be open to all public and private sector teachers in Bermuda, faculty members of the Bermuda College and qualified teachers currently working in non-teaching capacities at the Education Department and in the private sector.

It is envisaged that the agency will be governed by a board of directors to be made up of members of the public and others with a special interest in the education of Bermuda's youth.

The College will develop and teach part of the curriculum for teacher certification.

Dr. Peters noted that "certain responsibilities will have to be transferred from the Education Department and the BUT''.

"Some will be obvious, while others will require open discussion and negotiation,'' he said.

When contacted, BUT president Michael Charles said the union agreed wholeheartedly with the idea in principle, but needed to know more before fully endorsing the plan.

"We are always looking at ways for teachers to upgrade -- anything to help them with their delivery,'' Mr. Charles said.

He noted that the BUT earlier this year submitted a proposal for licensing of teachers to the Education Department.

"We set out what we see as a licensing procedure for teachers, something like the Bar Council to lawyers -- an autonomous group to oversee the teaching profession. But we have not heard back from the Department of Education.'' Mr. Charles said the union also needed to learn more about the college proposal.

"This seems to be just a skeleton,'' he said of the plan. "First we do not know who the universities are.'' He added that the BUT intended to hold discussions with Dr. Peters later this month.

Neither Premier and Education Minister Jennifer Smith nor Association of School Principals president Livingston Tuzo could be reached for comment.