Bermuda is moving in the right direction with its plans for inclusive education.

Canadian educator Ernest Payette, who is expected to head the Island's first senior secondary school, last night told The Royal Gazette that this was one of the reasons he was attracted to the $80,000 a year post.

While still waiting to receive official approval from Immigration, Mr. Payette -- speaking from his Belleville, Ontario home -- said: "What you're doing in Bermuda is consistent with what they are trying to do in North America, the United Kingdom and Germany.

"But the Island has a much clearer vision of inclusive schools which we believe is going to be the way of education in the 21st Century.'' Mr. Payette, who heads Trenton High School in rural Belleville, is no stranger to education reform.

With a background in science, he was appointed coordinator of maths, science and technology for Hastings County Board of Education. And he was given the responsibility of developing new integrated technology courses in the area.

Mr. Payette said there was a growing need for people to be literate in computers and technology.

He noted that 250 of Trenton High School's 1,100 students were adults, between the ages of 21 and 45, who were returning to school to upgrade their skills to keep up with job demands.

The rest of Trenton's student body were youngsters between the ages of 14 and 19.

In light of his experiences with senior secondary schools, Mr. Payette said he was very impressed with the upcoming senior secondary school at Prospect.

"In metro Toronto they are moving into that kind of school,'' he said. "But in rural Belleville, which has a population of 40,000, and I work in a town of 18,000, we have nothing that would compare to what you have in Bermuda.'' Mr. Payette, who visited the Island for the first time last month, said he was also impressed with the Island's beauty and the friendliness of the people.

Mr. Payette said both he and his wife Carolyn, who is a special education specialist, were excited and "anxious'' about coming to Bermuda.