Parents could be called automatically at home or work if their child is off school and could check their homework for the night on an Internet site if the radical vision of Government's education computer guru is put into action.

Corbin Kerr said computer technology could enable parents to interact with their children's development at school.

Mr. Kerr, the Ministry of Education's chief information technology consultant, said he would put to Government a suggestion that duty on computers be abolished if parents buy them for their children's education.

Mr. Kerr outlined his strategy yesterday to delegates at the Bermuda Public Services Association conference at the Elbow Beach Hotel.

He said a computerised roll call was one part of his vision, although he stressed his ideas had not been approved by Government.

"If a child is absent it could activate a call to their parents,'' he said.

Parents would also be able to check their child's attendance on a website.

"We could have either a website or a dial in (for parents) to find out what their child's homework is for that night. That's our vision and I'm trying to put it forward.'' Responding to a suggestion that import duty be axed on computers bought for children for educational purposes, he said: "That's a good idea and I'll take it back.

"There are legislative areas that we work in, but if we are going to change our society, we have to change legislation, and that's something we should look at. If we are going to change, we need ideas that may sound radical at first.'' Mr. Kerr said technology was expanding so quickly that as much knowledge will be created next year as has been made in the entire history of the planet. New skills were needed to filter through the hype to get to what is important.

The Education Ministry has 1,600 computers but most are close to becoming obsolete.

He said it was essential that computers were not studied in themselves, but were a central tool in enhancing the study of every subject.

Social science students were using computers to compile a social history of Bermuda and were so excited they were asking to stay behind after school in the evenings and at weekends.

It was important to recognise that giving children computers was an investment in the future. "We have to get away from the accounting principles of what it costs,'' he said.

Teachers and parents would need to constantly upgrade their computer skills because the future is going to be "change, change and more change. It's going to be a bit scary, but we cannot be scared, we have to embrace it''.

He said there was an "incredible'' worldwide shortage of IT staff. Referring to work permit policies, he said: "The policy-makers have to open up and make it easy to bring in staff and their expertise to the Island. It's the only way we can get to where we want to be''.

Mr. Kerr said that while organisations had a responsibility to train staff, ultimately every individual had to ensure they were computer-literate.

"Organisations will try to educate you, but if they can't, don't sit back because the world will pass you by.'' EDUCATION ED