Rural Roads in Toledo District Preventing Students’ Access to Education

Francis Fonseca

Another issue that has also prevented some children from being in school in the Toledo District is the deplorable road conditions. Earlier this week, there were reports of students being unable to get to school because of bad road conditions in Toledo District. But, this is not the first time we have heard of such reports. Shabby road conditions in southern Belize have been a persistent challenge to students for many years. Today, reporters asked Minister Fonseca what can be done to remedy the situation.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education

“The rural road network is a massive challenge. That is a massive undertaking. In particularly in the south there has been a lot of neglect over many years. So, it is an ongoing challenge and I absolutely applaud the work of the Ministry for Infrastructure Development, Rural Development, they are trying to do everything they can to assist. Whenever we call upon them, they jump get out there, get their equipment out there and try to help. But every time you fix something, it rains, it washes away. These things require permanent fixes. We are talking about big issues today. We are discussing big issues that require substantial investments. They require long-term planning. So, the rural road network, no secret. That is a night mare and I have talked about this for many years. I absolutely feel so terrible when I see our young people in these rural communities having to walk miles, because the bus can’t go in to their communities. So, they have to walk out to the bus. And some of them have to get up four thirty, before five in the morning, to walk out through mud and water to get to these communities. The rural road network requires, that is hundreds of millions of dollars investment, that is a big project and I hope that under our government that some day we will be able to have a big project that is willing to deal with the rural roads one and for all.”