BNTU President Puts Government on Notice

Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) President Nadia Caliz has issued a rallying call to address persistent challenges faced by teachers, including salary upgrades, incremental allowances, and broader systemic issues that she says threaten the quality of education in the country.

Caliz told the media this afternoon that alarming findings from recent surveys show that 75% of responding members had not received salary upgrades earlier in the year. According to Caliz, this figure climbed to 90% in November. She said that delays in incremental allowances have left over 800 members—more than 25% of the union’s membership—without payments for three months.

“These figures represent a significant number of our members, but even if it were just one teacher, it’s unacceptable. It cannot continue,” Caliz stressed.

The BNTU membership recently voted overwhelmingly to take action. With over 1,800 members casting ballots—well above the required threshold—the union has been authorised to escalate its efforts. The first step is a formal letter to the Ministry of Education outlining the teachers’ demands. If no satisfactory response is received, a demonstration has been tentatively approved for January 2025.

Despite meeting with Chief Education Officer Yolanda Gongora, the Ministry of Education has yet to provide clear answers or resolutions. “The question asked to Chief Gongora, ‘Will our teachers be able to get their increments and allowances before the end of the year?’ She couldn’t answer the question,” Caliz stated.

“We are the backbone of every profession in this country; we need to be treated with respect. So when the membership is saying, ‘It is time,’ it is time.”