A recently completed survey on literacy suggests that Bermuda's students are better behaved and as motivated to learn as those in other parts of the world.

Education Minister and Senator Milton Scott told the Senate yesterday that a British consultant had been hired to assist Government in implementing the second phase of its literacy initiative.

Mr. Scott told the Senate that the consultant hired had coordinated the "highly successful'' literacy initiative conducted by the UK government.

Over the last two weeks, the consultant conducted a survey of the schools which is "fresh off the presses,'' said Mr. Scott.

He read portions of the survey's findings to the Upper House. "By international comparisons, Bermuda schools are well supported,'' he read.

Local students were judged to be "at least as motivated as those anywhere else'' and their behaviour was better than most, according to the literacy consultant. In terms of the Government's literacy objectives, the report found "no reason standards shouldn't be significantly improved''.

To these ends, Mr. Scott said he intended to put a reading teacher in each Middle School and to commit sufficient funds to ensure schools have the necessary resources to crucial needs of students. The Government will now "ensure all resources necessary to delivery the primary levels of literacy and numeracy are in place,'' he said. Teachers will need to hone their skills, he added, and Government would be "making sure every teacher is a teacher of reading''. The Minister said Government thought it was vital to put money toward the front end of the educational curriculum as studies have proven this an effective technique.

Mr. Scott said that a roughly six to one savings is recognised by placing resources at the front end -- in education -- rather than at the back end -- in dealing with things like rehabilitation or financial assistance.