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Monica Bodden reporting
The school first opened its doors on January 6th - but on Thursday they received a letter from the Ministry of Education stating that it had to close down within 24 hours or else face police intervention.

Parents of the 25 students who attend Hope SDA Christian Academy - located in the village of Rhaburn Ridge in the Belize District - were informed by the school principal in a meeting yesterday.

The school had half day classes on Monday and today when we visited, all doors were closed on the compound.

Lorena Vasquez - Villager
"On Friday the Ministry of Education came here to the school and say the school have to be shut down by Friday evening and then the principal came and alert all the parents and villagers that they have to be present for a meeting on Monday morning because they will come and shut down the school, so the parents agreed and went to the school. Meanwhile they were waiting for the Ministry of Education they were having a meeting and at the same time they (Ministry of Education) reach and they came in and they didn't even say morning to the parents and the principal told them that the parents have questions for them. They just came and they say that they won't answer any questions."

Dasia Robinson - Parent
"We see the people came and before they reach in the church they were on their phone and after that we invite them to come in the church. While they were coming in like they were walking in on the side and they stand up to the back and they say that they don't have any answers to give us."

In a press release the ministry sent out today, it stated that the approval of a license to operate the school was never granted.

According to the release, that's because: 1.) the village of Rhaburn Ridge was only about 10 miles from Biscayne Government School.

2.) The Ministry of Education provided school transportation for the small number of students from Rhaburn Ridge to the Biscayne Government School Which is serving all the communities within a ten mile-radius.

3.)There are not enough children between ages 5 and 14 in the area to justify the establishment of a new school in that location. Today we found out that Hope SDA Christian Academy is actually over 11 miles away from the other school.

And while the principal of the school was in Belize City trying to remedy the situation, we did reach her on the phone and she did tell us, she believes the issue is way bigger that what is said on that press release by the MOE.

Monica Bodden
"You understand the situation what's happening?"

Dasia Robinson - Parent
"Actually I don't really know what is happening."

Monica Bodden
"I understand your children were going to Biscayne Government School. Why did you decide to remove them and put them at the new primary school?"

Dasia Robinson - Parent
"Because you have a lot of children at the school that chancy my children there and nothing gets done about it."

Monica Bodden
"I understand you weren't the only parent to do that."

Dasia Robinson - Parent
"No, other parents as well remove their students. I think what happen to them is because they are short of students for their staff, that's why they are making a big issue because they sent a letter to me saying that I will be in trouble for moving my children."

Monica Bodden
"For transferring your children?"

Dasia Robinson - Parent
"Actually I didn't get any transfer for them because they refuse to give you it."

Monica Bodden
"So you just remove then like that?"

Dasia Robinson - Parent
"Yes and I registered them here."

Monica Bodden
"When you ask for a transfer, what did they say?"

Dasia Robinson - Parent
"They say the ministry says they can't give you it."

Lorena Vasquez - Villager
"It's unfair because it's been 2 months since the school opens and kids are attending there from January and if they go back to Biscayne school they would have to repeat because it would be difficult for them to pick up from 2 months their grades."

But for whatever reasons the Ministry of Education has for closing down the newly opened primary school - Students like 9 year old Oceris Garcia would be a good reason to reconsider.

Monica Bodden
"What class are you in?"

Oceris Garcia - Infant 1 Student
"Infant one."

Monica Bodden
"And how old are you?"

Oceris Garcia - Infant 1 Student
"Nine."

Oceris is from around the neighbourhood and I was told it's her first time attending a school.

Normally for students her age, they would be in a Std 2 class but for Oceris she just started infant one.

I met her mother who is a single parent - her father is in prison.

Her school provides her and her siblings with warm meals and school supplies and is just minutes of walking distances from home.

Monica Bodden
"At this school I understand that you guys do gardening as well?"

Oceris Garcia - Infant 1 Student
"Yes, we planted okro, and peanuts and other stuff and my teachers said that if the peanuts grow, we would eat it."

Today we took a walk out by the class garden.

Oceris Garcia - Infant 1 Student
"This is Okro and cilantro and the other is peanuts."

Monica Bodden
"Which one is this one?"

Oceris Garcia - Infant 1 Student
"This one is okro."

A press release was issued a short while ago by the Hope SDA Christian Academy. It stated that the school had applied for a license sixteen months before opening, and was told by the then Belize District Education Manager, Jamor Lopez, that they needed to build in order for any inspection to be done. Since then Lopez has been transferred to Corozal and the release noted that no inspection has been done by the regional council so far.

The release continued by saying that the school is a little over 11 miles - so that 10 mile radius should not be applied. It went on to state that the number or ratio of students to teachers does not apply to private institutions like theirs and gave examples of Mennonite communities and their schools which sometimes only cater for 15 students or less. The release ended by saying that the school is in alignment with the education rules and have a list of points to justify why it should remain open. So far 8 students have been removed from Biscayne Government School to attend Hope SDA.