Education - Channel 5 Belize

Children Nationwide Celebrate Belize at Annual Rally

Primary school children across the country were celebrating Belize outside of their classrooms today. From Corozal to Toledo, students gathered at various locations for the annual Children’s Rally. In Belize City, the Civic Center was almost at capacity with students from twenty-five primary schools. This tradition dates back decades and it remains alive. The students sung patriotic songs, danced to Belizean music and won loads of prizes, while waving the Belizean flag throughout the entire morning. News Five’s Paul Lopez stopped in. He filed the following report.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Across the country, primary schools gathered for their annual patriotic children’s rally. In Belize City, twenty-five schools were represented inside the Civic Center. The energy was high, and the children were energized as they socialized with peers. Students from Stella Maris School stole the show with their bold performances.

Margaret Smith, Teacher, Central Christian School

“I think it is important because it is an opportunity for us to bring the kids together and for them to see that it is not just your school, it is all the schools. We come together and it is a form of teaching them civic pride, love for country and respect. Like the mayor said in his speech earlier, to talk about the important of not bullying and respect. It is a warmer time of the year, so just being out of the class and enjoying this AC at the Civic it is lovely.”

As the hosts did their roll call, each school represented raised their voices with shouts that signaled their presence and participation. Belize City Mayor, Bernard Wagner was the keynote speaker at today’s event. Following his address, he quizzed the students and gave away five hundred-dollar prizes for the correct answers. The shocked look on this child’s face when he learnt that he won one of the hundred-dollar prizes for answering a question correctly. Realizing what was at stake, every question that followed led to a stampede towards the main stage. Each child was eager to answer and win the prize.

Bernard Wagner, Mayor, Belize City

“What is the greatest asset?

Student

“Education.”

Bernard Wagner

“Yeah, this man win one hundred dollars. Very important. This is what shapes our youths, shape our children, being able to have all of them in one space and being able to have leaders of the community share values to them. Many times we ask why some of our children go along the wrong road, but it is us as leaders in our country and city that has to be an example. Five virtues that I believe is very important for all children, having basic respect for each other, staying in school, being an advocate against bullying, demonstrating civic pride, demonstrating love for your country by your action, by practicing civic pride. So those were five simple virtues that I believe, if our children live by those virtues every single day and we continue to have it become a habit, we being to change the culture and the way we are.”

Margaret Smith

“And also, I think that the flag, it is just important for them to know that we show respect for our country and loving our country in the way we just not only our school compound, but even outside, the way you carry yourself, wearing your uniform, showing love for your country. Learning patriotic songs. There are some songs that from I was in infant I know these songs and I teach standard six now and they don’t even know some of the songs I would have known from the infant class.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.

Twenty-Five New Scholarships Awarded at Galen University

Today, twenty-five Galen University students were awarded scholarships in celebration of academic excellence and community support. The university’s scholarship program has been an ongoing commitment for the past twenty years, with over twenty million dollars invested since its inception. News Five’s Britney Gordon attended the ceremony for more details on the Galen scholars.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Every parent wants to see their child achieve greatness by pursuing a higher education. While every parent aspires for this, it is difficult to achieve because education is an expensive investment. Dr. Eve Aird, Provost of Galen University, provided some details on the university’s commitment to providing these scholarships.

Dr. Eve Aird, Provost, Galen University

“Galen University throughout its twenty-year history sas always had a very vibrant scholarship program. In fact, over the twenty years of our well, we are now in our twenty-first year actually over the twenty years the previous twenty years of our existence we have actually Invested about twenty million dollars in scholarships that have been awarded to Belizean students who have come here. We think that this is an impressive record. We’re a small private university and that we’ve been able to do this. And it’s not so much an investment in scholarships, but an investment, a twenty million investment in the human capital development of Belize. A lot of our students who have gotten these scholarships are well placed across Belize and some of them actually work in international bodies such as the IDB and other regional bodies in various professional capacities. This we are very proud of.”

Students can apply for either an academic or merit scholarship which evaluates academic performance and financial need, respectively.

Dr. Eve Aird

“This morning we are actually awarding twenty-five new scholarships to incoming students and this is in addition to students who are currently enrolled and who are maybe halfway through their programs, three quarter way through the programs, students who will graduate in December, and maybe next year next July. So in total we have about fifty students who are on some form of scholarship at Galen University the scholarships will be awarded to them this morning. They get a scholarship contract that i’ve signed and that they will sign and they will get a certificate that that they can take home with them to say that they are a scholar at Galen University.”

Britney Gordon

“So the scholarship covers their tuition?”

Dr. Eve Aird

“It covers their tuition. We have some students who are on one hundred percent scholarships, and some students who are on fifty percent or seventy-five percent scholarships. And then they have to pay the other half, the remaining portion of their tuition.”

Second-year-student Noralee Burns is a criminal justice major at Galen. She says that it is her first time applying for the scholarship and receiving it is a big blessing to her family.

Noralee Burns, Scholarship Recipient

“To be honest, I feel really grateful for this scholarship because it’s an opportunity that not a lot of like people have and I’m so blessed to receive this scholarship and I’ll make sure I make my parents proud and everyone because this is an honor that I’m receiving this scholarship.”

Britney Gordon

“Have you always wanted to get into this field of study? What led you to want to pursue it?”

Noralee Burns

“Criminal justice from I was little, it was like a major that I really wanted to like, grass, like info and all of that on especially with crime and beliefs and stuff. I actually want to be a lawyer. So I feel like this would have been the perfect field for me.”

Burns is completing her courses entirely online, but she still immerses herself in her school life by participating in the events club and being a peer mentor. She is enthusiastic about her field of study and is looking forward to continuing her degree with a rechewed vigor now that tuition is not a concern. She told us what she hopes to gain from her time at Galen.

Norlee Burns

“Everything that criminal justice has to offer. The courses, all the different subjects. I’m also a peer mentor here, so whatever here has to offer to me.”

Britney Gordon

“How long is your degree going to be?”

Noralee Burns

“The degree, to be honest, it’s four years, but I’m already at my second year, soon finish.”

Aird explains that these scholarships are more than an investment, they are a commitment. One that the school plans to keep with all recipients for the entirety of their time at the school.

Dr. Eve Aird

“This is for the duration of their program. And our students are closely monitored, and they’re closely supported. We have a Academic Success Center that might work with the student to ensure that they keep a required GPA of 3.0. And if they don’t meet that GPA initially, it doesn’t mean that we take away the scholarship. We work with the students to ensure that they can achieve their academic success, which is ultimately what we want them to do. And we provide them with all the support that they need, which includes academic counseling, academic support. If they need other kinds of counseling, we provide that for them as well.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

Galen University Awards Scholarships to 25 Students

Today, Galen University awarded scholarships to 25 new students to help achieve their academic goals.

The scholarship committee awards the scholarships based on financial need. Applicants go through a rigorous process, including an interview and a rating criteria. The Provost of Galen University, Dr. Eve Aird, described this as a “very difficult process.”

Since the university’s inception in 2003, the university boasts a “vibrant scholarship programme,” said Dr. Aird. To date, Galen University has invested approximately 20 million dollars in scholarships for Belizean students.

Dr. Aird commented, “We think that is a very impressive record, we are a small private university that we’ve been able to do this.” She added, “It’s not so much an investment in scholarships, but a 20 million dollar investment in the human capital development of Belize.”

Aird noted that graduates from these scholarship programmes have secured jobs with various companies in Belize, as well as international and regional firms.

Currently, the university hosts around 50 students that are receiving some form of scholarship.

The scholarships cover between 50% and 100% of tuition fees, but do not include registration fees, field expenses, or graduation fees. They are awarded for the entire duration of the student’s bachelor’s degree programme.

Two Belizean Students off to Jamaica on Athletic Scholarships

Two Belizean youths are off to Jamaica to further their education after receiving athletic scholarships for track and field. They are fifteen-year-old Norman Sutherland and fourteen-year-old Jadeen Williams, who will both be attending Saint Elizabeth Technical High School in Santa Cruz, Jamaica. We spoke with Cojac Smith and Gregory Meyers, who facilitated the application of the athletes.

Gregory Meyers, Scholarship Facilitator

“Mister Smith and I have been working diligently about getting these scholarships for these young men. We started this process collaborating with some coaches and the different principals, Weil and CARIFTA. In Grenada in Easter of this year that conversation developed into where we brought three four coaches from Jamaica here to give a clinic. During that clinic, they were able to meet some of these young athletes. One of them had competed at CARIFTA, Jadeen Williams. And through our collaboration and communication and the things that we’ve done to this point, we were able to secure these scholarships for these young men. And that’s in conjunction with the hold ups with Jamaica. Jamaica had a few changes in their rules, which we had more scholarships, but those scholarships were rescinded because of the change in the rules. Fortunately, through our diligent hard work with and collaboration with these coaches and principals we were able to secure at least two scholarships for these young men”

Britney Gordon

“And what exactly does the scholarship entail? Where will they be studying and what will they receive?”

Gregory Meyers

“Okay, the scholarship is for their tuition and for their books We are working hard to Secure the funding for their room and board Which we’ve reached out and we’ve had a lot of generous benefactors to help us to this point. They will be studying at St. Elizabeth’s Tech with and training under coach Neil Harrison who was here in Belize in June. And they should be leaving within the next week, within the next seven days.”

Cojac Smith, Scholarship Facilitator

“It’s a great step in the right direction in development for these young athletes. One of the things that we’ve been short going forward as a country is the development of our talent. So recognizing that these youths from a young age and seeing that the talent that they have and being able to capitalize on that and giving them the opportunity to go on further their education allows, as well as working with these excellent coaches in Jamaica will bring a sort of notoriety as well as give other students Kids the inspiration to work hard and train as well as you have to remember that these are student athletes, so their grades are exceptional as well. So it’s a great opportunity and we really want to promote this level of positivity within athletics.”

Belize Creative Youth Summit Blends Culture and Innovation

On Thursday, the National Celebrations Commission hosted its annual Creative Youth Summit. This forum underscored the importance of Belize’s cultural heritage, while inspiring youths to engage in challenges that employ critical thinking skills. This year, the theme focused on the ever-evolving technological landscape, encouraging participants to explore how they can contribute to sustainable development, generate economic opportunities, and enhance cultural understanding through innovation and collaboration. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

How do we blend culture and innovation? That is the big question underscored at the 2024 Creative Youth Summit. Since 2021, the National Celebration Commission has gathered youths from all over the country to share ideas and voice their opinions on the challenges they and their peers are facing in Belize. Minister of Education and Culture, Francis Fonseca tells us that creating spaces for young people to join the conversation is vital for creating solutions to the problems that affect everyone.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education & Culture

“We all felt that we needed to include a space. For our youth to engage in dialogue about your priorities, right? About your concerns, about your interest. Too often people like me and the CEO too often we’re the ones making decisions and setting the agenda and deciding what will be discussed and what will not be discussed. And it’s important for us, people like us in leadership positions, to always remember that we need to listen to others. We need to respect the views and opinions of others, especially our young people, especially our young people. We need to hear from you.’

The theme: Innovation and Culture, was selected by the participants. The first group sought to answer the question how can we leverage traditional knowledge and cultural practices to drive sustainable development? The presenters highlighted the challenge of connecting with their cultural identity while being heavily influenced by other western media sources.

Presenter 1

“We weren’t necessarily taught, we weren’t always taught to Oh, you’re this, you’re that you’re Belizean. That’s what they tell us. We weren’t necessarily taught, okay, you’re part Indian, you’re part Guatemalan, you’re part this, you’re part that, you’re Belizean, right? So with that, we never really got a full explanation of what it is. Of what we are. So that way we were fully influenced by the nor guys. United States we’re influenced by the United States with all the TikTok, the social media. We’re looking at their methods instead of focusing on how we do it here, we’re not looking at our identity. We’re far off. We’re accumulating something that is not ours. We’re not paying attention. We’re not focusing on our identities. So with that, if Belizeans would focus on Belizeans instead of focusing on the United States, that way we can support small businesses, support our community and build the economy with all this.”

The second group sought to answer how can emerging technologies be harnessed to preserve and promote our tangible cultural heritage? Their reflection focused on solutions such as bridging the technological gap in rural communities and preserving culture digitally with more initiatives similar to that of the Belize Music Project.

Presenter 2

“A major challenge in the digital divide in Belize, where access to technology and the internet is still limited in some rural areas. Many cultural practices are held in these areas, and without technology access, there risks being forgotten. So solve this. We could focus on providing technological infrastructure and training in these regions. Another solution could be working with cultural organizations to create digital archives of Belizean cultural practices, ensuring that they are documented and preserved for future generations. So we could use digital archiving by having scanning technologies to preserve cultural artifacts, historical buildings, and heritage sites in digital form to future generations.”

The third group answered what new strategies can we develop to engage with Belize’s culture sector? In these presentations, they unscored the theme of providing youths opportunities to engage in and lead the charge in revolutionizing the way others engage in Belize’s rich and diverse culture. The final group tackled the question, what role can online platforms play in promoting cultural diplomacy, exchange, and global understanding? They suggested that creating more cultural campaigns highlighting cultural events, outsiders may be encouraged to participate. Francis concluded by reminding the participants of the impact they have on their own futures and the county’s at large.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education & Culture

“So for me, my young friends, you, our young people represent the hope of Belize, right? You are the energy, right? You don’t look too energetic right now, but you’re the energy, right? I want to see some more energy out of you today, right? You are the energy; you are the creative. You are the optimism that our nation needs to grow and develop.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

MOE Says Schools Can’t Refuse Children Over Hairstyle

Minister of Education, Francis Fonseca has weighed in on reports that at least three students were sent home from the Anglican Cathedral College because their hairstyle was deemed as unacceptable. As we reported, the students showed up to school on the first day with braids. The decision has sparked quite the public discourse. Some are of the view that students should adhere to every school rule, even if they don’t agree with the rule. Others are of the opinion that a hairstyle does not prevent a student from learning in the classroom. Well, today Minister Fonseca, in no uncertain terms, declared the school’s decision unlawful. He says it is improper to refuse a child entry because of their hairstyle.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education

“The Chief Education Officer immediately contacted the school, the principal, the administration, to resolve that issue. And as I have said over and over again, many times on the public record, the schools have the right to set certain rules and regulations and guidelines. But certainly, the length of your hair, the style of your hair is not one of them. So it is absolutely improper and in fact unlawful for any school to refuse a child entry into their school because of the style or length of their hair.”

Reporter

“In many case then, it seems that there’s a disconnect between these rule books in schools and the ministry’s policy and the law. How do you rectify that?”

Francis Fonseca

“Yeah, I mean, these are resolved through discussions, engagements. in the case of ACC, there’s a new administrator there, a new principal. And I think that may have contributed to some of the misunderstanding. No judgment on her, I think she is a very good principal and wants to act in good faith. But, you know, sometimes we do have this conflict between the church and the state even though we are partners in education. Sometimes they want to impose their standards and values on students and we support some of that in terms of reasonable guidelines, but, certainly as I’ve made very clear, in this particular case, they should understand what the rule is.”

Parent of ACC Student Upset over Application of School Rules

A mother of a student attending Anglican Cathedral College has lashed out at the school for sending home her daughter on the first day of classes. The teenager was informed that she is not to return until her hair is cut shorter than the length displayed when she reported to school on Monday. It’s not a new conflict between parents and school administrations over their children’s hair style or length. It has gone on for years, with the Supreme Court ruling once in favor of a student. It is also an issue that the Minister of Education had publicly discussed and concluded that students should not be sent home simply for the way they wear their hair. In this case, the mother told News Five that she is not opposing any school rule, but that the way the high school enforces the rule is malicious. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.

Marion Ali, Reporting

This note from Anglican Cathedral College, sent home with the third form student has prompted the mother of the girl to blast the high school. In this Facebook post, the mother expressed her frustration that ACC’s school rules are not specific in its handbook about the length of hair that their students are permitted to wear. In fact, this page taken from ACC’s School Rules on Appearance speaks nothing at all about the length of hair for female students. The mother says she is not against school rules, but she is upset for two reasons: the school was not clear in its rule on hair length for girls, and two, her daughter lost out on an afternoon of classes and would have also not been able to attend classes if they were not able to take her to get her hair cut today.

Voice of: Mother of ACC Student

“The issue wasn’t with the rules, it’s how the principal went about doing it, you understand, applying it, or actually, you know, enforcing it. The handbook clearly state their hair should be neatly combed, right? If it’s dyed and tinted, then it shouldn’t be, shouldn’t be loud, right, and distracting. Her hair was actually just below her shoulder, right? Just, just like upon the breast or maybe in that area. And, her hair was not distracting or anything in that regard. I mean, I remember when I sent her to the hairdresser, the hairdresser said I will put it at this length because she’s going back to school, and we won’t do it long because she’s going back to school. But like I said, it’s not the rule because you can’t enforce a rule. It’s how you went about doing it because you did not update, you did not inform the parents, hey, you know what, this is what I want. At the end of the day and that’s the thing that bothered me because you interrupted a day of learning for something you were not clear about.”

The same parent explained that she also has a son attending St John’s College and his barber did not keep the top of his hair within the one-inch length. She said her son was also sent home with a note, but at the end of the day she believed that SJC was considerate to give them until the following Monday to comply with their rule. The parent said her daughter returned to school today after her hair was cut and wearing a bond. She said the school had her remove the bond to measure her hair and still said it was too long. Two years ago, also at the start of the school year, the Minister of Education, Francis Fonseca spoke with the media on the matter. He said that while school rules are important, he supported the removal of the rules that prevent children from entering the classroom based on the length of their hair or hairstyle.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education

“Schools do have the right to set rules. We want our students to be disciplined of course, but, these rules cannot be unconstitutional, they cannot be arbitrary, they cannot be discriminatory in any manner. We have a fundamental objective and responsibility at the Ministry of Education to ensure we protect the fundamental constitutional rights of our students, as well as our teachers. In this case, we are talking about our students. So, people have kind of put up this straw argument about it being about discipline. It is not about discipline. We are all in favor of discipline. Everybody wants our young people to be disciplined. We want productive, positive citizens, produced in our education system, but, the education system also has to follow the laws of the country and rules of the country.”

In January of 2017, the then Supreme Court of Belize ruled in favour of a former student of Stann Creek Ecumenical College who was attending classes with uncut hair. The court ruled that the student, Imhotep Diego may continue to attend classes with his hair uncut for the duration of his tenure at Stann Creek Ecumenical College. That ruling was made with the provision that Diego kept his hair tidy and well groomed while attending classes and on school premises. We went to ACC this morning and asked to speak with the principal on the matter, but we were informed she was in a meeting. We visited several high schools around Belize City to find out about their hair policy but none of them were willing to talk to us. Marion Ali for News Five.

Parents Fill in During Teacher Shortage

There is a problem of teacher shortage at some schools for multiple reasons. In some cases, the teachers have not met the Ministry of Education’s requirement of reaching a hundred and twenty hours of Continuous Professional Development to apply for a teacher’s license, or they have but the system has not yet processed their license. In other cases, teachers simply leave the profession and move on to teaching jobs closer to home or to greener pastures altogether. It has created a problem for schools that have multiple teachers missing and a multitude of students to teach. Because Maskall Village is situated several miles away from a major highway, the primary school there finds itself in this situation. News Five’s Marion Ali went back to Maskall Village which has a shortage of three teachers. Here’s that report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

It’s the first day of school at Our Lady of Lourdes RC in Maskall Village. The children are excited to be back, but this year is not like previous years because there is a shortage of teachers at the institution. The nine teachers who are at school must do their best to ensure that the two hundred plus students in their custody receive optimum quality education, regardless of the deficiency. Principal Herman Ramirez says they’ll have to figure out.

Herman Ramirez, Principal, Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School

“We principals out here, we fill the vacuum, okay. Whenever a teacher is absent, whenever a teacher is missing, the principal takes on that role and goes into the classroom and does what the teacher should have been doing. In this case though, it’s quite different. We have a shortage of three staff – one at the preschool, which is very critical at this time because preschoolers normally – they give a little bit of trouble to settle down, and it requires more than just one teacher to be there. So, we’re short there, we’re short at standard two, and we’re short at standard five. So I’ll be moving between these classes to ensure that we have everything that we need in terms of resources, printing material, activity sheets for the children and so on, so that the teachers who are there assisting can find it easier.”

Kim Myers has three children attending classes at Our Lady of Lourdes. All three are affected by the teacher shortage and this means she’ll have to go the extra mile with her kids.

Kim Myers, Parent

“I usually check their school bag to see if any homework, then sit wa lee two hours with them to complete their homework and thing, so they could…”

Marion Ali

Now with the shortage, what yoh wa have to do you think?”

Kim Myers

“Well, I have to sit with them longer – be one to one with them.”

For Adrian Graham, he will also have to pinch hit as educator for his son who has entered Standard Two and has no homeroom teacher.

Adrian Graham, Parent

“There will be teachers substituting for other classes and you know, within that time, you’ll have to find work to give these kids and things to keep these kids minds occupied in that time and that’s where we as the parents would come in because maybe there’ll be times where they don’t have the time to teach the lessons in full and so us as parents, the communication that this school brings to me and my family is superb. So, you know, they keep us up to date on the WhatsApp, give us phone calls if needed and they tell us what type of homework should in case the kids don’t take it home, we know what homework are there to do, and they give us opportunities to, coach our kids as well. So, yes, I think it is a challenge for both the parents and the teachers. But then again, that’s a parent’s job and that’s a teacher’s job for us to come together to make sure our kids succeed.”

Earlier today, Minister Francis Fonseca explained that the Ministry of Education has processed the majority of certificates for teachers to get their licenses, so that should not be a problem for teachers who want to return to the classroom.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education

“No teacher has been denied a license or rejected a license. What the ministry has always done is put the application on hold because teachers have to apply for their license and then contacted the teacher; to say how can I work with you? So those teachers who we have heard publicly taking about – they made a decision that they would resign or – it’s not the ministry has removed them or rejected them. The ministry is always prepared to work with individual teachers – how can we work with you on your records, on getting your requirements in place. We provide them with options and alternatives. We’re always prepared to do that.”

Principal Ramirez hopes that the problem will be solved soon.

Herman Ramirez

“We’re trying very hard to try and get teachers that will stay here in this community. Like I mentioned before, it’s very hard for anyone to venture out to Maskall and have to figure out how to live in and teach. And that is the part that’s becoming a little challenging. But up to date, we are hoping that we will have the vacancies filled within a couple of weeks, if not a month the very latest. We have candidates who have expressed the desire to get into the teaching field and they have other degrees in other areas. So we are going to try and see if we can move up and get the ministry to facilitate the process.”

Marion Ali for News Five.

Summer is Over, The Back to School Rush is Here

On Monday, primary school students across the country will return to the classes they left behind for summer vacation. With only two days to go, are Belize City residents prepared to send their children back to school? News Five’s Britney Gordon visited a few stores today to answer that very question. Here’s the story.

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Summer is officially over, which means that parents all over the country will either breathe a sigh of relief or shed tears of joy as they watch their little ones return to or begin their primary school education. But with the reopening of classes comes the stress of back-to-school preparation. Krystal Dougal, Marketing Coordinator at The Angelus Press, told us that the store has been hectic, as parents purchase last-minute school supplies.

Krystal Dougal, Marketing Coordinator, The Angelus Press

“The past weeks, especially on Saturdays as well, we’ve seen definitely a rush, especially like this week, like you mentioned. School is opening back on Monday, so people are definitely coming in. We’ve heard customers tell us, oh, we’re just here to get last minute stuff, so there’s definitely a rush happening and stuff like that, and we cater and we make sure our shelves are stocked and everything for, to accommodate our customers, of course, yeah, we’re well prepared for that and we’re looking forward to it because tomorrow is our last day as well, opening on Saturdays from nine to two p. m.”

As the days are counted down until Monday, items such as crayons and composition books have been flying off the shelves. Although not everyone waited until the eleventh hour to gather their supplies. Six-year-old Jaliyah Rudon will be entering Infant Two at Grace Primary Schools and she is completely ready to take on the year ahead.

Britney Gordon

“Why do you want to go back to school?”

Jaliyah Rudon, Infant 2 Student, Grace Primary School

“Because it’s fun do be doing homework and learning things at school.”

While pencils and folders can be picked up almost anywhere, there are very few places to purchase uniforms on short notice. But Rosenda Chen, manager at Uniform Stop, tells us that never stops the last-minute rush.

Rosenda Chen, Manager, Uniform Stop

“Really, really busy. We have a huge always amount of last minute shoppers, but this year was a little different as we had some early birds and also customers who have requested layaway plans with us, which is working conveniently for some others. So I must say this year has been really good for us. No complaints here.”

Britney Gordon

“Do you see like a steady flow of people as school day slowly approaches or is it always this rush last minute?”

Rosenda Chen

“Always. Always. I don’t know why but we Belizeans always wait till last minute so there’s no surprise for us. We just have to be ready for the crowd.”

For single mother of four, Tanya Gongora, sending her kids back to school is bitter-sweet. While she is happy to see her daughter return to the classroom, the expenses just keep piling up.

Tanya Gongora, Mother of Four

“I’m so glad because she’s five years old and she did great on her first term in a infant one. So she averaged at eighty-three point nine she get, so he going in a infant two. And she happy because every day she get up and go fast into thinking, can’t wait to go to school, excited and I excited for her too.”

Having recently lost her job of over a year, Gongora doesn’t know where resources for her family will come from, but she trusts that God will find a way.

Tanya Gongora

“God blessed me yesterday with a school bag for my baby, so I left everything in God’s hands.”

Britney Gordon for News Five.

If you would like to assist Tanya Gongora, you can contact her at 628-9087

An Online Platform for Education on Belize’s Legacy

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology has launched an online platform that brings Belize’s ever-evolving history at your fingertips. Access 501 features fifteen categories of Belize’s rich heritage, ranging from reading material to technology, music, cultural videos and the environment. It is described as a revolutionary tool for everything Belize, inside and outside the classroom. A launch ceremony was held in Belize City. News Five’s Paul Lopez reports.

Paul Lopez, Reporting

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology launched its Access 501 online platform today. Carlos Quiroz is the coordinator at 501 Academy and the visionary behind the new platform.

Carlos Quiroz, Coordinator, 501 Academy

“A young Froyla Tzalam around 2010 wrote a book, the people who carved Jade and their descendants. Now we can say, we are children of the people that carved Jade and wrote book. Never underestimate words. In August of 1969, a young Evan X published a string of words titled the Rockville Generation. Fifty-five years later and hundreds of thousands of words later, that is as hard as Jade in our social imagination, formed under intense heat and pressure, pressure, pressure, pressure. Then there is Leroy the Grand Master Young constantly translating for us the realities of our 501 as he sees it playing out. Access 501 is them, the people I just listed and many more. It is them; they are us. It is a project to harness energy, 501 energy. It is an attempt to provide access to every Belizean to the raw material for our imagination.”

The online multimedia platform provides a wealth of resources that delves into information about Belize’s past and present in fifteen categories. These categories range from technology to the environment, music, cultural videos and more. Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Education, Dian Maheia, spoke to the importance of the platform to education in Belize.

Dian Maheia, C.E.O., Ministry of Education

“Access 501 is a tool. It is a tool. The same way your pen is a tool, your keyboard is a tool, or a hammer is a tool. A tool is latent action. It does nothing unless you do something with it. It is a potential for learning, and it is a potential for lessons. The hope is that once this goes live and you all leave here, you will recognize this for the tool that it is and you will be willing to use this tool, because you don’t need a special skillset for it. With Access 501 anybody can use this. It is also an answer. It answers the questions of teachers who don’t know where to find material. It answers the questions of teacher, educators, students, parents, of people who say I don’t even know where to look. I don’t have books. Where can I find this. How can I find this.”

Minister of Education, Francis Fonesca was also present at today’s launch. He announced the creation of a People’s Digital Archives, led by the establishment of this Access 501 platform.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education

“This project isn’t just about honoring our past. It is about shaping our future. Today we are thrilled to announce that Access 501 will spearhead the creation of the People’s Digital Archives. This initiative will open a door for our citizens to share their personal stories, contribute ideas to our national builders’ section and engage in the rich tapestry of what it means to be and become Belizean. This isn’t merely an archive. It is a living, breathing, collection of our collective journey and aspirations. Access 501 is a vaccine to fight fire, hurricane, but also to fight growing disconnect. If we don’t internalize this, others will take its value.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.