are to succeed in the 21st century, Hamilton Rotary Club was told yesterday.

Roy Napier, head of Bermuda High School for Girls (BHS), said students need to study the culture and society of other nations and should not be constrained by parochial national borders.

The BHS board had decided to introduce the International Baccalaureate Programme because it was the "passport to a world-class education and the best passport for citizens of the 21st century''.

He told the weekly meeting at Tuscany Restaurant: "How do you teach international understanding when your students come only with a limited knowledge base? "This is a challenge and an important question -- but teach internationalism we must. To neglect to do so is very much at our peril.

"We may need to revamp our curriculum and expand the breadth of the studies our young people undertake to enhance the notion that world affairs are our affair, even if it happens thousands of miles away.'' He said it was important for students to develop an "international vision'' and they must learn not just a foreign language, but about the culture of the country.

"I believe that the problems of the world can only be overcome when people think beyond their borders, and treat all people with justice and compassion.

"To do that we need a far greater understanding of both the challenges and responsibilities for global citizenship.

"We need to educate our children with global perspective. The local perspective is not enough, even in the larger countries of the world.'' This was true he said, particularly if students in Bermuda wanted to compete for jobs in international companies.

After his speech, Mr. Napier said he could not say whether Bermuda's much criticised education system was to blame for the problems on the Island today.