ALTHOUGH such a fact seems to hugely contradict most information published in the media, Bermuda's public education system does have its share of success stories.

The intelligent, the gifted, the performers, are not limited to the private sector. At other schools, in other courses, such achievement might be the result of parental interference or faculty effort, but for art pupils at Clearwater Middle School in St. David's, their accomplishments are largely due to the pains taken with them by their teacher, Lisa Anne Rego.

Having taken her students to a level of excellence within their present curriculum, Miss Rego hopes to surpass that accomplishment and lead a group of students to success in an arena usually braved only by pupils in the private sector - the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE).

SHARNEIL Paynter is a former head girl at Clearwater Middle School. Although interested in drawing for much of her life - she's now 14 - she said her talents never really fell into place before Miss Rego joined the school's faculty two years ago.

"I didn't really study it earlier," said Sharneil, now a student at the Berkeley Institute. "I only started classes when Miss Rego came to the school last year and I (did extra) classes with her over the summer. She taught me how to apply perspective to paintings. I never used to paint that much. I would only really do drawing and shading. She never gave up on me. Every time I came to class, she would always want me to work harder, to do more."

Born in Bermuda in 1971, Miss Rego spent most of her life in the United Kingdom. She trained at the world-renowned Glasgow School of Art and worked in Glasgow as an artist and teacher before returning to Bermuda as an artist in residence at Masterworks Foundation's Terrace Gallery in 2001.

She has since participated in various exhibits around the island including an extensive one-man show featuring paintings of Bermudians and Bermudian scenery, at the Bermuda Society of Arts Gallery in City Hall. A sampling of her work is now on display at the Desmond Fountain Gallery in the Emporium Building on Front Street.

What she's now working on, however, is a less personal - although just as dear to her heart - body of work. She's hoping her art pupillage will help her students successfully complete the GCSE in art. Although once ritual, the exams are no longer typically offered through the public school system.

"I hope to achieve naturally success with all students," she explained. "But I believe that the high-flying students need additional support as do learning support students. Therefore, I have created the advanced programme - GCSE art - based on an examination in London, England.

It takes two years to undergo the coursework for that and my hope is for them to reach high passes in May 2005. We will be sitting the exam with Saltus children and I hope that we will ace it. And I'll do all that I can to achieve that."

Although Miss Rego is offering this opportunity to her students, it's one she feels should be availed to schools across the island.

"I really pray that the Premier and (Berkeley Institute principal) Michelle Gabisi and (CedarBridge principal) Kalmar Richards implement GCSEs immediately as of September next year so that students like this are evaluated internationally," she said. "I really believe that we should stretch our high flyers.

"(At Clearview) they're already succeeding. They're doing as much as they can do. Every opportunity I've given, they're taking. So I just believe that the whole school now needs to go forward and get a standard of education which is understood in Canada, America, England - now that you can live in England - so I believe that's my passion as well and hopefully that will happen."

As proof of the artistic level attained by Clearview students, the school this year took home the overall prize in Masterworks' annual Festival By the Sea Competition.

"We were up against schools such as Saltus and the Bermuda High School for Girls - schools which currently have international accreditation," the teacher said. "We don't. I felt it was a great mark of achievement for students in the public system to be better. And to be frank, as someone who's worked within the private system, I'm convinced that the talent within the public system matches it and exceeds it. And that's why we need to formalise a lot of the things we're doing."

With the GCSE open to older students, Miss Rego's preparation course has been designed for 13 to 16 year olds. With two vacant spaces, it is possible for students outside of Clearwater Middle School to join, but they must exhibit two qualities.

"They must be artistic and committed. It's commitment, and talent as well that I require."

In addition to the Saturday morning programme, the after-school classes and, of course, her regular instruction, the teacher has also established a junior art academy."

"(Through it) I hope their skills will be increased," she said. "I wanted it to (run) almost like a little private school (at Clearwater Middle School), drawing out of the class, those who have high abilities. I'm not ashamed to say that if we draw those students out of the classroom, they can run faster; they can paint better. I am trying to encourage those who find art difficult, but the reality is, there is a gifting in art."

To the average eye, a piece of art might not seem to show any great skill, but it is capable of speaking volumes as to a student's level of talent, the artist said.

"Sometimes you don't see a high-flying product, as in an art piece, but you see a desire; a tenaciousness about it and, quite frankly, a lot of students here expect an A or a B to be given to them and (to get that) you have to really work. Art is spelled W-O-R-K. It is inspiration but that's only one per cent of the process. Most of (the work I assign) is hard. It's difficult. But I think they enjoy it. You can see a drawing, you can see someone that observes well.

Miss Rego said she did not think she was solely responsible for making the children excited about learning or interested in coming into class on Saturday mornings or staying late after school.

"Art is a passion and I believe some of these students had it before I taught here. But how do I make them stay? I show them achievement. I try to show them that there are competitions; there are opportunities for them to do well. They know my nickname at school was 'Rego Ego'. Anything I do, I do my best. I'm a believer that that gene is in us all. I believe in opportunities and I think that whatever you do, you should do well.

"Other than that I'm a great believer in discipline. I believe that Bermuda has a lot of unharnessed talent. And I think that (my students) are harnessing their strengths and now we're starting to see results and that's what's exciting. After all the talking is said and done (the murals they've created on the school walls; their paintings) all that will remain.

That's the power of art. It's a visual language and it touches the soul, spirit and mind. And I hope that I can touch their souls, their spirits and their minds and then (I'll know) I've completed my work."