Bermuda.eduDVCAM, 21:40 mins. June 2002 |
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When people think of Bermuda, they envision palm trees and pink sand beaches, Old World charm, whitewashed roofs, and Bermuda shorts... These are all parts of Bermuda, which has long been a holiday destination of choice. Tourism is still important, but in recent years, the country has been transformed by Multinational Corporations. Lured to the island by a favorable tax structure and strategic location, these companies are turning Bermuda into an information-driven city-state. Until a few years ago, Bermuda's public school system was not adequately preparing its students for the island's new economy. Teachers, administrators and parents clamored for the school system to teach Bermudian students the IT skills they would need to compete for the best jobs in the country. In the late 90's, a unique public private partnership - the XL Education Initiative - was formed to bring Bermuda's high school curriculum into the information age. Through interviews with students, teachers, parents, and educators, Bermuda.edu tells the story of an education initiative that aspires to keep Bermudians competitive by changing the way they think about technology. Moreover, it aspires to change the way Bermudian kids think about themselves by giving them the tools they need to survive in a new economic order. |