BERMUDA will not have a "law-abiding, productive and successful" society unless a premium is placed on education and entrepreneurship, US Consul General Gregory Slayton has warned.

In a speech to the Bermuda branch of the Institute of Directors, Mr. Slayton said the challenges here were no different to those in the United States, where children received a substandard education and, as a result, created a drain on the economy.

"Sadly, providing a consistently high quality public education for all of our students is a real challenge both here and in the United States," he said. "That is no secret. All of us, including educational professionals, need to face the fact that educational bureaucracies in both countries are failing some of our children ? especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

"It is of great concern both here and in the US that we are short changing some members of the next generation by providing substandard education opportunities for them. This is neither fair nor just to these children nor is it, in the long run, good for the general economy of our respective countries."

Poor performance in Government schools has been highlighted on more than one occasion this year.

In March, Shadow Education Minister Neville Darrell criticised performance within the public school system, claiming that attainment levels have remained stagnant for 13 years and ? for the past three years ? Bermuda's test results have been below the 50 per cent norm in the United States.

And earlier this month he claimed students who would have otherwise failed to graduate from CedarBridge Academy were given last-minute chances to improve their grades through a combination of challenge exams and crash courses.

The Shadow Minister said the initiative was designed to boost sagging graduation numbers at the island's largest public school.

"It is of great interest to me that so many parents of school-age children here in Bermuda send their children to private schools ? even those for whom private school tuition is a very serious financial burden," Mr. Slayton said yesterday.

"But what about the kids who don't have those advantages? What of them? While I do not have any magic bullet solution to offer you today, I would be willing to bet a large sum that the solution to the US' and Bermuda's educational issues will come via the effective incorporation of the best elements of the free market ? competition, choice and innovation ? into the educational systems of both countries."

The basics are still vital learning tools ? however, practical experience has shown to be "the perfect opportunity to stimulate the mind and imagination" of a student, the Consul General said.

"Reading, writing, math and sciences ? and of course the critical skill of self-discipline ? are some of the most important basics taught at school. Learning what it means to commit to a goal and a set of objectives is invaluable training for the real world.

"Beyond such training, however, know-how in business matters ? for those who show an entrepreneurial spirit ? can be very helpful and may, in fact, launch an interest in business that will last a lifetime."

Mr. Slayton went on to praise the Institute of Directors for introducing such practise to the island's youth through its Young Enterprise Programme.

"By adding real-life, practical experience to classroom time, the Young Enterprise Programme offers the perfect opportunity to stimulate the mind and imagination of budding business professionals while endowing them with the basic skills necessary to succeed in the corporate world.

"We in the corporate world owe it to our children to model honest and forthright behaviour both in our personal lives and in our business dealings ? we fail the next generation when we do otherwise. This is another excellent advantage of the Institute's Young Enterprise Programme.

"It's important to talk about honest, fair play and teamwork on the job. It's even more important to model them for the next generation of business leaders ? and that is what the Young Enterprise Programme does."