B.N.T.U. Protests for Better School Management Systems

Before the House Meeting even started, thousands of teachers from the Belize National Teachers’ Union marched in Belmopan to express their frustration with the government. They’re upset because some haven’t received their due benefits. The teachers are demanding changes in how the school system is managed. Today, B.N.T.U. President Nadia Caliz told reporters that better school management systems are needed to ensure teachers get their salaries and benefits on time. The B.N.T.U. is urging the Ministry of Education to lead this change. Here’s News Five’s Marion Ali with the report.

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Thousands of teachers from the Belize National Teachers Union gathered in Belmopan this morning to protest. This comes after a meeting on Wednesday between B.N.T.U leaders and the Ministry of Education, where they demanded systemic change and urged the Ministry to take the lead. Today, B.N.T.U President Nadia Caliz told reporters that they want meaningful change. She highlighted a major issue: the lack of proper documentation in the school systems.

 

Nadia Caliz, President, Belize National Teachers’ Union

“Some managements are faltering. They’re not pulling their weight. Going in they realize now what we have been saying is true. Some of the management’s don’t have the number of personnel required to serve this huge group that you see here and that they as a ministry, even as government, they need to stop doing what you call a hands-on approach; make policies and give it to them to institute and all of that. That needs to stop. Now that they are going in, they are finding exactly what the teachers are saying because when they were sharing with us their report, we couldn’t argue because we know that that’s exactly what is happening.”

 

Some teachers haven’t been able to get the money they’re owed because school management hasn’t sent their details to the ministry for processing. During their discussions, Caliz mentioned there’s even confusion about how many teachers are supposed to receive these payments.

 

Nadia Caliz

“We applaud them for one, bringing to our attention – which we knew but we did not have the figures, that while we are putting forward six hundred and fifty-eight teachers, they have over two thousand teachers who are affected by this – I call it archaic, crazy system. It’s outdated; it’s antiquated. They realize that. And they have already begun to put systems in place to correct that, because they shared all of that with us. Some teachers don’t even have a file. There’s so much missing documentation. And money must follow the paper. So, they are now working with management to get all the missing documentation so that they can ensure that these teachers receive what they have to receive.”

 

Ifasina Efunyemi and a group of teachers from Dangriga traveled to Belmopan to take part in the protest.

 

Ifasina Efunyemi, Teacher

“There’s so much background work that has to be done to verify why win uh di get the pay weh wi done work fa. This is not something for the future. We have worked for this already. Teachers have to be going to work under very arduous conditions, so even if some of us got our increments, it doesn’t mean that all got and we have to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are still suffering. That’s what a union is about.”

 

Paul Lopez

“How do you respond to some who may criticize the fact that you’re out here when you should be in the classroom teaching the students on a Friday morning?”

 

Ifasina Efunyemi

“But being outside of the classroom is also a teaching moment. Our children need to learn civic pride. They need to know that they must have a voice and use that voice in a democratic nation and we have to make sure that our government representatives, who are our employees who we pay with all the taxes that they take out of our salaries every month, we must hold them accountable.”

 

Calis says the ministry has eliminated unnecessary bureaucracy that delayed the process for teachers’ salaries and benefits. Today, teachers protested under the theme ‘Value Teachers, We Matter.’ Caliz specifically called out certain school managements that have been causing frustration for teachers.

 

Nadia Caliz

“You have schools – and I’m talking specifically to my management – you have these schools because these teachers have been financing these schools. They have been fundraising for you. They have been looking for monies to find these tables and chairs, to pay the electricity bill, to do a lot of these things. That’s why you have these schools. That’s why I do not support Pastor Rock’s statement in the media this week.”

 

Pastor Ashley Rocke commented on the teachers’ protest at Belmopan Baptist High School on Wednesday. As the school’s board chairman, he felt that the teachers wanted to dictate how the school should be run. Caliz explained that today’s protest was the start of a campaign, and they will take further action if other issues aren’t addressed. She emphasized that the protest and any future actions are not intended to influence the upcoming election results. While the Opposition has shown support for the teachers, Caliz stated that the union wants to keep politics out of their event. The union and the Ministry are set to meet next week. Marion Ali for News Five.