in making Bermudians computer literate.

Under a year-old initiative funded by locally based XL Capital, the XL Education Initiative has trained ten teachers in the public school system to instruct young people in all aspects of computer programming, networking, and hardware.

The first day of school for senior one students at CedarBridge Academy and Berkeley Institute yesterday saw launching ceremonies at both schools.

It also featured a video conference with curriculum writers at the University of Virginia.

Education Minister Milton Scott was joined by Telecommunications counterpart Renee Webb in thanking the insurance and reinsurance heavyweight for getting the programme up and running.

"On this first day of the new school year leading to the new Millennium we have excellent facilities at both Berkeley and CedarBridge, specifically designed for the XL Initiative,'' Sen. Scott said.

He added: "Yes, this is a pilot project, but Bermuda is unique in having the opportunity to prepare to meet the challenges that the next Millennium will have.

"Bermuda and its students will not only have an advantage, but it will also be head and shoulders above other regions and countries.'' Echoing Sen. Scott, Ms Webb said: "This is a significant day in Bermuda's history. This is an exciting time.

"We are looking to creating an e-Bermuda by making sure all of our citizens have access to computers.'' The XL Foundation has been joined by Logic Communications, IBM and Bermuda Computer Services, Ernst and Young, Canadian Pacific, and RF Communications in funding and providing other services for the Initiative.

"We're committed to Bermuda and Bermudians,'' Gavin Arton, the XL Foundation's president said.

"As an employer these are the computer skills necessary and important for the business world and we look for them in our hiring.'' Berkeley teacher Andrea Dill -- who completed the four-week information technology course in July -- was pleased to be a part of the "exciting and innovative'' course.

"I think for the 21st century the students will need something like the new curriculum to stay motivated,'' she said. "Motivation is the key to success.'' Other teachers receiving certificates yesterday were Reginald Harris of Berkeley and CedarBridge's Dean Foggo.

Donna Robinson and Anthony Pracsovics of CedarBridge and Eric Totten of Berkeley also completed the course. Other computer and social studies teachers in the lower grades also took the course for familiarisation in preparing students in middle schools for the course.

Central to the Initiative is the creation of Digital Bermuda, a cyber history project which will eventually put primary documents, interviews, and oral histories onto the World Wide Web.

Modelled on the University of Virginia's Centre for Digital History, Digital Bermuda is guided by the school's Curry Centre for Technology and Teacher Education.

Opening the future: Berkeley Institute student Jason Swan cuts a ribbon launching the XL Education Initiative for information technology curriculum at his school yesterday. Shown assisting him are Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb, Education Minister Milton Scott, and XL Foundation president Gavin Arton.