SCHOOLS across East Lancs are being given the chance to join an exciting hi-tech education and information service which will be travelling through 18 countries.

The Tic-Toc roadshow is visiting education districts to give primary and secondary schools a chance to link in with the team as it travels along the Tropic of Cancer, beginning in Morocco from September.

Tic-Toc International Challenge Tropic of Cancer is a company from the South of England which has carried out pilot projects - taking its van, with satellite and computer equipment, to foreign countries and linking in with schools.

It is currently at Barden High School, Burnley, where staff are keen to link up with the team through the Internet and video conferencing. Other primary and secondary schools are being invited to the school to see Tic-Toc.

Jane Beckford, a development worker with the county education department, said: "The project is about bringing the national curriculum to life. It is going to travel around the Tropic of Cancer doing science, language and geographic projects which will be fed into its web site.

"There is a satellite system on the top of the lorry which allows video conferencing, e-mail and phone links so the team can carry out projects and demonstrations while schoolchildren watch.

"The project would not be in Lancashire were it not for our chief education officer Chris Trinick who encouraged Tic-Toc to come."

The roadshow has already visited Alder Grange, Rawtenstall, and will also be at St Augustine's, Billington and Longridge High.

Tic-Toc's web site is http://www.campus.bt.com/Tictoc.

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