A PROGRAMME specifically geared to the enhancement of high-achievers will soon be open to local students looking to further challenge themselves academically.

The Institute for Talented Students in Bermuda hopes to identify and evaluate eligible students in both public and private schools on the island who excel academically or have the potential to do so.

Affiliated with the Johns Hopkins University Centre for Talented Youth in Baltimore, Maryland, the programme will be offered to selected students beginning in September, the Insitute's president, Riquette-Bonne Smith, said last night.

"The Johns Hopkins programme has been in existence for over 20 years and has been extremely successful in nurturing talented students in the United States and in other countries such as Ireland, Spain and England," she said.

"Bermuda will be one of the few countries offering this advanced educational opportunity. Our goal is to increase the competency and competitiveness of Bermuda's students to enable them to meet the challenges that lie ahead both in Bermuda and abroad."

A non-profit, registered charity, the programme is endorsed by the Ministry of Education and will offer intense coursework in maths and English adapted from models developed by the Johns Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth. There is a fee for the programme - however, financial assistance will be available to those in need.

In order to participate, students must take a test - offered free of charge through grants from The Atlantic Philanthropies and the XL Foundation - which will then be assessed by the Baltimore-based Centre. Invited to attend are students ranging in age from ten to 14, who are among the top 12 students in their maths or English class.

Students wishing to take the test must complete and submit a registration form by May 31. The forms may be turned in at schools or faxed to 296-5678 or 292-6287.