Early Childhood and Elementary Teaching from Wheelock College in Boston.

About 33 of them have flown to the US for the graduation ceremony today at the college, which specialises in teacher preparation, social work and child life.

They are the second graduating class of a programme that is conducted on the Island by Wheelock's Centre for International Education and Leadership.

Yesterday they gave a seminar on the influence the programme had had on their growth, professional development and teaching in Bermuda.

Dr. Robin Mount, assistant director of the Centre for International Education and Leadership, said: "Thirty-three students will fly up to take part in commencement ceremonies.

"Some are bringing as many as ten family members. We are expecting some 200 people from Bermuda at graduation.

"They're excited and proud of their achievement, and thrilled to travel to Boston to take part in the festivities.'' Established in 1996, the Wheelock College Master's Programme in Bermuda is one of only a few higher education programmes that allow Bermudians to gain a post-graduate degree entirely on the Island. Otherwise, students would have to leave the Island, or rely on correspondence courses.

The Bermudian graduates this week, most of which are professional educators, started classes in the summer of 1999.

The programme combines intensive three-week summer sessions, with evening and weekend sessions during the school year.

Senior Wheelock faculty staff taught the classes and each graduate completed 32 credit hours to earn their Master's degree.

Graduate Helene Stephenson said: "The programme is intensive, well-planned, rigorous, but well-supported by caring, humane faculty.''