The Board of Trustees of the University of Belize (UB) today announced that Dr. Luz Longsworth is the new Vice Chairperson.
Dr. Longsworth was elected at a meeting held on 13th June 2024.
Dr. Longsworth holds a Doctorate in Business Administration (Higher Education Management) from the University of Bath, UK, and currently serves as the Senior Corporate Director of Sandals Corporate University.
Godfrey Smith, Chairman of UB’s Board of Trustees, stated, “Dr. Longsworth’s extensive experience as a former Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Affairs at the University of the West Indies and former Principal of UWI’s Open Campus equips her to make a significant contribution to UB’s development. We are excited to have her on board.”
Dr. Longsworth expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “I am excited and honored to join the Board of Belize’s national university. I look forward to working with the team and contributing to UB’s institutional development.”
The MoRe Campaign is making waves across the country, highlighting institutions that go above and beyond for their students. We’ve traveled to every corner of Belize to tell the stories of deserving schools and students. This week, we visited the Itz’At Academy right here in Belize City. Despite opening its doors only a year ago, the school embodies the essence of the MoRe Campaign across all pillars defined by the Ministry of Education. Sabreena Daly stopped by to see what the STEAM Academy is achieving under the pillar of Creativity and Innovation, and if you know anything about Itz’At, STEAM is indeed where it’s at. Here’s that story.
Sabreena Daly, Reporting
They call it the Maker Space, a place where ideas transform into reality. In this room, first-form students engage in activities ranging from coding for robotics and woodworking to 3D printing. Lionel Palacio, the Key Learning Area teacher at Itz’At Academy, oversees this innovative space, with a particular focus on Digital Art.
Lionel Palacio
Lionel Palacio, Key Learning Area Teacher, Itz’At Steam Academy
“So, the class we are currently in right now is called Maker and Maker allows the students to tinker with the different types of tools and skills and produce tangible stuff.”
Students are busy creating a logo for a business. Palacio explains that the curriculum provides an integrated learning experience, where each subject seamlessly connects with others.
Lionel Palacio
“Most of our subjects or courses are connected. Students work on their digital art logo. So this cycle is called Promote It. And they would create a logo in Digital Art, which is a separate subject, but that very logo, they had to do research on their favorite logo. Once they have learned that, they start to tinker and design their own logo according to their passion. So the objective was what is your passion? Okay. Maybe your one is food. So what type of food? And so you think about maybe you could create a business. Now you need to create a face for a business, which is a logo.”
Thirteen-year-old Jayzden Nembhard proudly shows us her project—a logo for her business, “Learn Together.” Her idea aims to engage students interested in the same subjects she is studying.
Jayzden Nembhard
Jayzden Nembhard, Student, Itz’At Academy
“My idea was that I wanted to have a company that could help students coming into high schools like ours that is basically technology based to learn more about technology. So I think in my company, I would teach about the basics of technology, like for students who came from primary schools that don’t use computers, that they could learn before they come to high school, maybe like a summer program or something like that.”
Lionel Palacio
“So what they’re doing now, they’re solving on their own, which of these machines will best illustrate their logo. And today is going to be like a test run. So if you’re going to run it on the vinyl, It might not come out so good until you go back and iterate. Maybe there’s something that is clogging. Maybe you need to reduce some tone or color or something until you would have done that. So, they’re basically going to test it on whatever machine they want.”
Itz’At Academy exemplifies what competency-based learning can achieve when students are given the opportunity to be critical thinkers and problem solvers.
Lionel Palacio
“The reason I’m here is because education is different. It is the future. It is having students have access to state of the art machines, having access to new information, having access to how to become entrepreneurs, autonomous thinkers. And the typical high school can only do that to a limit. An example of this is that we teach them how to research, allowing them to gather these tools and skills on how to do research. It’s a gateway for them to further their education and also become lifelong learners. And so if we’re looking at competency based learning, it is more of what the student can do with knowledge and skill and present it in a way that is original–authentic. It’s not like a guided activity where everybody’s producing the same thing. So, it aligns in terms of having our students be competent in what they’re doing.”
Competency-based learning is also evident in their creative and innovative approach to education. In this class, students engage in collaborative projects and demonstrate digital literacy.
Lionel Palacio
“What we do here is students are allowed their phone, of course with a license. The license allows them to know how to use their phone. They agree to use a phone. So we teach them how to use their devices properly for productivity. And we introduce softwares to them. Instead of using paper, they use their Chrome books to document their work, to save their work. So because we’re getting to a digitized world, allowing the students to be comfortable with that aspect makes it very easy for them to put things in and bring things out.”
Christine Coc, the vice principal of the institution, oversees a cohort of sixty-four students. The Ministry of Education’s four-point scale guides their progress.
Christine Coc
Christine Coc, Vice Principal, Itz’At Academy
“We use the four point scale that the ministry has. You have emerging, developing, achieving, and mastery. And so what we do is we say when you start off and you have never used a laser cutter before, you might be at emerging, so you will know some of the information, but as we start to teach, when you start to practice, then you start moving up the levels that eventually you don’t need a teacher’s help. You have now mastered how to use the machines. And so for us, that’s what competency is all about. Are you able to do the work?”
Elroy Tucker Jr. eagerly shares his prototype and concept with us. Displayed on the screen, he describes a coded animation that, once refined, could support his business idea for an animated game, centered around a character with a personality disorder.
Elroy Tucker Jr.
Elroy Tucker Jr. , Student, Itz’At Steam Academy
“My logo is mainly representing the people who have a special disorder called Dissociative Personality Disorder. So my initial idea was to make a video game about it where you would interact with the world with different personalities inside of one singular host. And it was a really interesting concept to think about. I hope that I can use this same logo when I make the game in the future.”
Interacting with students at the STEAM academy reveals a bright future for Belize when forward-thinking education is embraced. Coc’s goal is to equip students with skill sets that make them highly desirable to employers or capable of creating their own businesses.
Christine Coc
“For me, when I see them, my vision of them walking down that stage is for them to be proud and say, Yeah, I got my diploma today and tomorrow I already have a job. Or I don’t have a job with somebody, but I can make my own business because I can design stickers. I can design logos. You give me a sketch, I can draw it for you. And so for me, that is the vision that I have for an Itz’At student.”
In a world where technology and innovation are rapidly reshaping the landscape of employment and creativity, a new educational model is emerging in classrooms around the globe. STEAM is not just an acronym; it’s a revolution in learning. Tonight’s Belize on Reel feature delves into the vibrant classrooms at Itz’at where STEAM is coming to life, exploring how this interdisciplinary approach is preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s challenges. We’ll uncover the impact of integrating arts into the traditional STEM model, witness the transformation of young minds, and understand why educators and industry leaders alike are championing STEAM as the key to unlocking a brighter, more innovative future for Belize. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano.
Elroy Tucker
Elroy Tucker, Student, Itz’at STEAM Academy
“They had a very interactive approach towards learning because the first thing that they did with us was an activity where we were supposed to collaborate with our teammates in our primary school.”
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
STEAM education prepares students like Elroy Tucker Jr. to tackle real-world challenges by engaging in project-based learning that stimulates actual problems and scenarios they might encounter in their future careers. It’s an approach that piqued his interest from the onset.
Elroy Tucker
“My sister is in St. Catherine Academy which is a traditional school and the rest of my family insisted that I should go to a traditional school until I saw Itz’at STEAM Academy. It was roughly the first school that I actually felt interested in because I knew for a very long period of time that other schools were just a challenge that you get through so that you can get into the workforce.”
As the job market evolves, STEAM education equips students with the skills necessary to succeed in careers that may not even exist yet, ensuring that they are adaptable and ready for the future.
Cristine Coc
Cristine Coc, Vice Principal, Itz’at STEAM Academy
“There needs to be a mindset shift. When you come from traditional schools, you are expected to stand up when the teacher walks in, say good morning, and, you know, write a lot of notes and carry a lot of books. And they come with that expectation. And some of them come with dislike for math, they come with a dislike for science. “I don’t like science, I don’t like math, give me art. I love art.”
By including the arts with STEM, students are encouraged to think creatively and innovatively, combining analytical thinking with resourceful problem-solving. This is necessary for the development of future innovators. At thirteen years old, Tyler Gabourel is already thinking ahead.
Tyler Gabourel
Tyler Gabourel, Student, Itz’at STEAM Academy
“I want to be technological engineer and Itz’at is kind of like the perfect school for that because everything we do is on computers and we learn about the different machines and how to use them and how to use them appropriately and professionally.”
The STEAM approach provides an inclusive educational framework that allows all students, regardless of their natural aptitudes, to engage and contribute, ensuring that each student can find their niche within the curriculum.
Melanie Arias
Melanie Arias, Student, Itz’at STEAM Academy
“The curriculums are different than normal high schools but they are also fun and they show your creative and innovative side.”
It is not just about teaching individual subjects; it’s about preparing students for life, providing them with a versatile skill set that goes beyond traditional academic boundaries and empowers them to become lifelong learners and contributors to Belizean society.
Melanie Arias
“I decided on this because it was a new school and then I read a lot about it and then it was like very… it was a “wow” experience when I started reading about the school.
STEAM education can positively impact cognitive development, increase literacy and math skills, and help students reflect meaningfully on their work and that of their peers.
Jahzhia Morales
Jahzhia Morales, Student, Itz’at STEAM Academy
“So I really like the classroom experience because they make you feel very comfortable and safe where you can share your answers and you don’t feel. Itz’at is more tailored to my future career path that I would like to go. I want to be an architect and in the STEAM school there is science, technology, engineering, arts and math which I would all need for my future career path.”
A holistic learning environment integrates various disciplines, encouraging students to make connections across subjects and apply their knowledge in a comprehensive manner.
Cristine Coc
“When we started, it was myself, Mr. Smith, Ms. Chable, Mr. Palacio and the principal. We did not have this fancy campus, we were in a tiny room and that was where we came together and it came to my knowledge that everybody sitting in that room wanted a different type of schooling. And as one of the administrators, my job was to hear them out. What are your ideas, what are your thoughts? And you know, they would express that and I would say, “Wow, we all have that same vision of what a different school may be.”
This morning here in Belize City, government officials, including Prime Minister John Briceño and Education Minister Francis Fonseca, were on hand for the official opening of Itz’at STEAM Academy. The secondary school opened its doors to the first cohort of students at the start of the academic calendar in September of last year. News Five was there for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. Here’s that story.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
STEAM education is a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to learning that is crucial for high school students. At Itz’at STEAM Academy, young people are prepared with knowledge, skills, and integrated experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics to build a sustainable future for themselves and their communities. STEAM education encourages students to think creatively and apply their knowledge in innovative ways.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
“It’s an absolutely exciting day for education in our country, you know, we’vetalked for a long time about STEAM education and the importance of investing in STEAM education for the future development of Belize and that’s what Itz’at STEAM Academy high school is all about. It’s about providing a space in our education structure and education system for young people to develop the skills and aptitudes that they need to participate in the future of Belize’s development.”
With rapid technological advancements, STEAM programs such as the one offered at Itz’at, help prepare students for future careers that require a blend of technical skills and creative thinking. It also emphasizes teamwork and collaboration, skills that are highly valued in the modern workforce.
John Newport
John Newport, Principal, Itz’at STEAM Academy
“At Itz’at STEAM Academy, our ambition is to create a diverse and inclusive school community that inspires young people, including girls, those from marginalized, social, economic and cultural groups, those with special needs to advance their knowledge and understanding of the world and to engage in concrete actions that lead to the improvement not only of their lives, but the livesof those around them.”
Construction for the new secondary institution began in September 2022 and was completed last year. The facility, with its two buildings, covers a total of thirty-five thousand square feet. STEAM education allows for personalized learning experiences, catering to diverse interests and strengths of students.
Francis Fonseca
“We talk all the time about the green economy, the blue economy, and the orange economy. Well we can’t just talk about it, we have to prepare our people to participate in that new economy, new emerging economy. And so, education has to lead the way and we have to be at the cutting edge of technology and science, and art. So I am very, very proud of the fact that, you know, over the past three years we have spent a lot of time and effort focused on this project.”
Itz’at is the first school in the country designed in conformity with Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiency or EDGE standards for resource efficiency. It has a bioengineering lab, art room, media lab, maker studio, silent rooms and typical collaborative learning rooms.
John Newport
“Our campus is not just this, our campus is the wider community and our students are engaging in it. And so, at the end of this ceremony you will get a chance to see some of these students in action. And again, remember they are first formers, as you see them engage in transformative mathematics that lead to qualitative reasoning, as you see the robotics group. And I’d like to say, a school does not turn students into robots, a school is where students make robots out of Lego and machines and wires and they show that we in Belize can really do some cutting-edge, technological, transformative action.”
For the past few months, the Ministry of Education’s MoRe Campaign has been rolled out across the country, highlighting schools doing “more” through five main pillars. Schools across the region eagerly submitted their accounts of how they’ve surpassed expectations in these areas. Among the standout submissions was Eden S.D.A. Primary School, whose exemplary efforts we’re excited to showcase tonight. One particularly inspiring aspect of Eden S.D.A.’s commitment was its holistic approach to promoting healthy dietary habits among students. Their dedication to not just healthier eating, but a vegetarian lifestyle, caught our immediate attention. Sabreena Daly found out more in this week’s Look on the Bright Side.
Sabreena Daly
“Ava, what’s inside your burrito? “
Ava
Ava
“Beans, vegetables, cheese, meat.”
Sabreena Daly
“Meat? And you like it? Is it yummy?”
Ava
“Uh huh.”
Sabreena Daly
“And why do you like your burrito?”
Xaia
Xaia
“I like it because it tastes nice.”
Reactions of approval from the student body as children munch their afternoon meal prepared by the school’s cafeteria. Only, Ava and Xaia have no idea that it’s not meat in their burrito.
Sabreena Daly
“What’s inside that burrito if there’s no meat? Because the burrito has meat in there.”
Brian Landero
Brian Landero, Student, Eden SDA Primary School
“It has soy meat, um, coleslaw and beans.”
Eden SDA Primary School is one of forty primary schools across the country benefitting from the Ministry of Education’s Healthy Start school feeding program. The initiative was developed to ensure that every child receives a nourishing meal during the school day.
Kathleen Juan
Kathleen Juan, National Coordinator for School Feeding, Ministry of Education “Our students spend a lot of time on school campuses. So that’s our goal as a ministry to enable all of our campuses to make it easier for children to be healthy.”
The World Health Organization reports a significant rise in global obesity, affecting over one billion people, with rates doubling in adults and quadrupling in children and adolescents since 1990. While undernutrition persists as a major concern in regions like South-East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean faces the challenges of high rates of underweight and obesity. This was just one of the conditions in mind when the Ministry of Education considered a way to enforce healthier eating habits within schools, according to Kathleen Juan.
Kathleen Juan “We offer the school the opportunity for every student in the school to get a free meal. Now, some schools are able to do that because they have the capacity with their kitchens and their cooks because we want every student to be getting the same meal and it’s a healthy meal. We’re looking to kind of Use positive peer pressure. Oh, all of the students are eating this, so I’ll eat it too. Even if I don’t really like fruits or vegetables, this is the school meal. It’s healthy. I’ll eat it. We are also working on the sugar, sweet and beverage ban pilot with the Ministry of Health. So that’s another component. We’re asking schools to stop selling cokes and sugar, sweets and beverages. Give the Children a healthier choice instead because we need these Children not only to be healthy now, but the choice choices and what they’re learning now is hopefully going to follow them into adulthood so that they are healthier adults.”
The implementation of this initiative could not come at a better time if you ask Eden SDA Primary School’s principal, Sharon Carr-Lopez.
Sharon Carr Lopez
Sharon Carr Lopez, Principal, Eden SDA Primary School
“Most of the time our kids used to come to school without eating because we do have kids who come from low income families. And so when we learned of it, we said, this is our chance. And so from January or January of this year, we started the feeding program with the help of the ministry. It has been a blessing.”
This was also an added opportunity for the school to enforce the spiritual belief that the healthiest meal is one without meat.
Sharon Carr Lopez “So, one of the principles that we have for the Seventh day Adventist church, or schools around the world, is that we don’t offer meat on campus in most schools. We look at it because we want the child to be spiritually minded, we want the child to be healthy. And so we are used to more natural foods.”
Aidan Landero expressed that he was never big on eating his veggies, but with his school removing meat from the menu, he has grown accustomed to the change.
Aidan Landero
Aidan Landero, Student, Eden SDA Primary School
“Before, I didn’t really used to like veggies much, but, since they started giving it almost every day, it’s only natural that I started to like it. Sometimes I do miss the meat, but, since they give veggies and other stuff, they’re also very healthy, so I don’t really miss it too much.”
Kathleen Juan “What we tell the principals is it’s okay if the kids aren’t really happy with it at first, but just keep providing them the chance, the opportunity to get more familiar with the fruits and the vegetables in the hopes that they will start accepting it because what we find is that the kids are telling us Well, we don’t get a lot of fruits and vegetables on our campus, so we don’t eat it during the day because it’s not there. We’re saying, give it to them, have it be there for them, let them make that choice, and you might be surprised by the kids, how much they are willing to accept it, and how much they enjoy it.”
Eden SDA Primary was also recognized for going the extra mile and adding an additional free meal for its student population of approximately three hundred. Every morning, each student gets to start the school day with a fruit juice or a fruit bowl.
Sharon Carr Lopez “When the feeding program came in we said well this is our chance, let’s do the juicing or the fruit slices as well in the morning so that the kids can have. We have kids who come to school and they don’t eat. Ms. Juan mentioned that we could have chosen which meal to have given the students. But we chose lunch because most times, kids don’t have the time to go home and eat. And even if they go home and eat, there’s nothing there because nobody’s at home. And so we prefer doing lunch for them. And so, having that juice in the morning or a healthy snack and lunch, I mean, you can’t ask for more, right?”
And this all encompassing idea of health and wellness does not stop there. From a playground for the energetic children, to backyard gardening that ensures the feeding program’s sustainability, Eden SDA Primary is an example of doing more and being more healthy. Looking on the Bright Side, I’m Sabreena Daly.
The inaugural School Gardening Competition concluded earlier this week, ahead of the start of the National Agriculture and Trade Show. Twelve schools from across the country took part in the competition in the primary and secondary school categories. The idea is to promote agricultural education and sustainable farming practices among schools in Belize. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
School gardening is an invaluable educational tool for students at the primary and secondary levels because it provides a hands-on learning experience where students can apply biological and environmental science in real life. They can observe plant growth, understand soil composition, and learn about the importance of biodiversity. The National Agriculture and Trade Show steering committee found it fit to launch a competition to encourage students to engage in practical learning.
Emilio Montero
Emilio Montero, Ministry of Agriculture
“This year, for the first time, the NATS committee suggested if we can do a school garden competition which is what the Ministry of Agriculture promotes a lot, working with gardening in primary school, as well as in high schools. So the proposal was put to me to lead it since we work a lot with schools. So in November, I was tasked to promote the school garden competition. We designed a flier that was posted on our Facebook page for the ministry and very interestingly, a lot of schools countrywide wrote to us expressing their willingness to participate in the school garden competition.”
School gardens are a great way to teach students about nutrition. By growing their own fruits and vegetables, students can learn about healthy eating and benefits of fresh produce.
Emilio Montero
“Countrywide, from all six districts, we started with fifteen primary schools and eight high schools that wrote to us expressing their interest to participate.”
Students develop responsibility, patience, and teamwork as they work together to maintain the garden. They also learn planning and research skills as they decide what to plant and how to care for it.
Emilio Montero
“At the time when we started receiving letters of expression, right away we saw we had to put two categories, the primary school and the high school categories. That also gave us the task of developing what we call a rubric, what would we be looking for in the garden to grade them, to be as transparent as possible, and coming up with the best winning garden. So some of the criterion that we put forth was garden design, the implementation of the garden, a garden that would be showing agricultural techniques, kind of like irrigation systems, tackling pests and diseases, if there would be any, and if the garden was environmentally friendly.”
Gardening helps students understand their relationship with the environment. They learn about sustainability, conservation, and the impact of human activities on ecosystems. In essence, school gardening can enrich the curriculum, promote healthy lifestyles, and instill a sense of environmental stewardship in students.
Emilio Montero
“For primary school, the winner came out of Corozal District, in the name of San Victor RC, a Roman Catholic primary school and second place was San Antonio United Pentecostal out of Cayo District. In the high school category, we had Valley of Peace Seventh Day Adventist which came up with an innovative type of gardening, sustainable agriculture practices which is what the ministry is promoting. And second place, out of Orange Walk District is Belize High School of Agriculture. Now within the recognition, innovation and technology, innovation and research. The technology recognition award is going to be given to Itz’at STEAM Academy out of Belize City, Belize District. And for the innovation research it’s Corozal District in the name of Escuela [Secundaria] Tecnica Mejico.”
It’s a multifaceted educational approach that aligns well with the goals of agricultural education. Isani Cayetano for News Five.
Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico has taken strides in fostering inclusivity within its student body through its innovative peer support program. Led by dedicated educators and compassionate students, this initiative aims to empower all learners, including those with special educational needs, to thrive in a supportive environment. These initiatives caught the attention of the Ministry of Education through its More Campaign. For this reason, we made them this week’s look on the Bright Side. Here’s Sabreena Daly with that story.
Sabreena Daly, Reporting
At Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a way of life. Through a groundbreaking peer support program, students like Jocelyn Moreno are breaking barriers and fostering connections that transcend labels and limitations.
Jocelyn Moreno
Jocelyn Moreno, Student, Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico “I represent the special needs beyond my half because I know how it is because I suffer with one of their conditions and I know how it is to feel like one of them.”
Moreno’s empathy and understanding make her a valuable resource to her colleagues. As a peer helper, she offers practical advice, a listening ear, and unwavering support, bridging gaps and fostering a sense of belonging for all.
Jocelyn Moreno
“If they need any support, I’m there. If they want to talk to me, they come and they talk to me. I just give them a little advice. Like if they want to know what to do if they’re having a nervous breakdown or when they’re nervous and they have a presentation, I give them some tips.”
Arleen Pelayo, a counselor at ESTM, speaks passionately about the program’s mission to empower students with special educational needs.
Arleen Pelayo
Arleen Pelayo, Counselor, Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico “For the past two years, we have included some SEN students in the program. And the main purpose of the program is to have them work and develop skills and attitudes in order to be able to interact with other students and to be agents of hope, encouragement, and change. It is very important for our students to be equipped with skills, so that they can then in turn act as coaches. Especially here at Escuela Secundaria México, our student population is very big, and so with Shera working in the counseling area, they then allow us the opportunity, or they help us in helping other students when it comes to having that support, no?”
Efforts such as those undertaken by Escuela Secundaria Tecnica exemplify a commitment to doing more, reflecting the principles of the Ministry of Education’s More Campaign. Acting Principal Giannie Gomez, elaborated on the approach, noting that teachers carefully draft lesson plans tailored to accommodate students with special needs.
Giannie Gomez
Giannie Gomez, Acting Principal, Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico
“We’ve been a school of inclusion from day one. We’ve had teachers actually that have tried to find a way to include students that are special needs. We don’t necessarily have the training per se, but every year we have assistance from the Ministry of Education. For example, Ms. Rancharan that comes in and would assist us. Assist in one way or another if teachers have concerns on how to work with special needs students. And Ms. Pelayo is a very important asset when it comes to training and helping teachers and trying to help them to facilitate certain students in the classroom.”
As ESTM continues to champion inclusivity through its peer support program, it serves as a shining example of what can be achieved when differences are celebrated and connections are forged.
Jocelyn Moreno
“I’m very proud of being a part of the ESDM school body as being a peer helper. I like to voice out my opinions and being one of them is a very honor.”
The Embassy of Japan in Belize donated an assortment of books to the Leo Bradley Library today. The donation falls under the Read Japan project which aims to provide readers with an accurate picture of Japan. While the project is mainly targeted at young researchers who are interested in Japan, it is also aimed at opinion leaders and intellectuals specializing in areas other than Japanese studies. Chief Librarian Lusiola Castillo says this will add to the library’s collection.
Lusiola Castillo
Lusiola Castillo, Chief Librarian
“Our patrons are always seeking new and relevant information to quench their information needs and for self-development. Therefore, we need to be constantly updating and expanding our collection to meet these needs. The Read Japan project, with its wide range of topics in its collection, will be an added collection that will enhance the knowledge acquisition of Belizeans and visitors alike. The books will compliment our international collection and provide interesting read to our patrons on Japan’s history, culture, society, literature, arts, economy, business, international relation, and politics. And as you can see the displays, we have some of the books that we have acquired through the collection to the project for the Leo Bradley library.”
The quality of education for children in Gales Point Manatee is about to improve. Today, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the construction of a brand-new preschool and the refurbishment of the existing primary school structure. The student population is a little under one hundred, but with students attending from surrounding communities and a new road, the school is anticipating some growth. News Five’s Paul Lopez travelled to the village today to find out more about the new project and how it will benefit the community.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Gales Point Manatee is getting a brand-new preschool and a fully refurbished primary school in the community.
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia
Dolores Balderamos-Garcia, Area Representative, Belize Rural South
“It is not a huge. I think has less than a hundred students. But we would like children from other communities to come here, for example Mullins River, Hope Creek and even from Dangriga, because some of the teachers are from those areas and the bus comes in everyday. But it is important for us to provide the top quality education for our children in this community. It being a rural community and I am very excited. The project has been in the making for about five years now. But the COVID pandemic really set us back for about two years. But we are very hopeful and confident that by December the Christmas present will be fully refurbished primary school and a brand new preschool.”
This morning a groundbreaking ceremony was held on the Gales Point Government School compound. The Belize Social Investment Fund made it possible. Executive Director Carlos Tun detailed what can be expected.
Carlos Tun
Carlos Tun, Executive Director, SIF
“One cornerstone of this project is the construction of a school building, meticulously designed to meet the standards outlined by international building codes and standards of the Ministry of Education. Spanning six hundred square feet, the facility will feature an open classroom, storage facilities, restroom for teachers and students, a shower facility and a covered verandah. With inclusivity, we will install an access ramp for individuals with physical disabilities, ensuring that every child has equal access. Furthermore, the preschool will be outfitted with essential toys and equipment, creating an enriching learning environment for our young leaders.”
Shermadine Andrewin has been an educator at the primary school for the past fifteen years. She says that the construction of a preschool will greatly increase access to early childhood education in her community. She also expressed the challenges the school faces with limited classrooms and teachers.
Shermadine Andrewin
Shermadine Andrewin, Principal, Gales Point Government School
“I am very excited. I have been here for the past fifteen years and they haven’t been any renovations done to this government school. So I am excited to see we are getting a new preschool and we are getting our government school renovated and I think it wonderful.”
Paul Lopez
“What sort of challenges does it alleviate?”
Shermadine Andrewin
“In the past we had the dilapidated at the first preschool. We had animals, insects with the teachers and students within the building. We didn’t have our own bathroom and now we will have everything we deserve as teachers and students here at Gales Point Government School.We had multi grade and monograde because it is not only multi. We have infant one and two together, standard one and two together, and we have standard three, four, five and six separate.”
Reporter
“Are you hoping that one day the primary school will get more classrooms so everybody could have their own classrooms?”
Shermadine Andrewin
“Yes that would be very great and I am also a teacher principal. So it would be very good if I can only be an administrator or a teacher.”
And, according to Jason Altschaft, the Chairman of the village, the recently completed Coast Plain Highway has made access to the community and the school much easier for surrounding villages.
Jason Altschaft
Jason Altschaft, Chairman, Gales Point Manatee Village
“The fact that enough people saw that this village is worthy of focused education on the young and growing community, that is priceless because we didn’t have to fight for it other than to stay up and say yes we want it, we want it, we want it. So, I think it is going to be excellent. We have always been known as a high population in youth because a lot of time parents had to go out and work and they would leave the children with the grandparents. That dynamic is now changing. With the road changing, it is going to allow more people to come and live back in the village and work and stay with the family.”
In January, instructors at the Belize City IT-VET complained that they were not receiving their salaries on time and that the faulty system that the Ministry of Education was using had the school meeting their salaries instead. One of the instructors told us that the ministry had not deposited their salaries for months. Soon after the complaint, the ministry blamed the system of payment that was being used. The Minister of Education, Francis Fonseca has assured that the problem has been fixed.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
“The root of the problem has been the one-year contracts, so every year they have to go through a process of renewing these one-year contracts, and for many years that served the purposes of both sides because you were taking on professionals, if you like, who didn’t want long-term contracts. They wanted flexibility, but we recognized that has not been working. And so there’s been a deliberate effort on the part of the ministry to try to work with the I.T. VETs to put in place a more sustainable structure, longer-term contracts to make sure that we get them paid through the Smart Stream system. So my latest report is that yes, those issues have been resolved. But we’ll have to wait and see because every time we think that it has been resolved, some other issue arises. But I’m very hopeful that we’ve put in place the right measures and policies now that will make sure that problem doesn’t arise again.”
