Earlier we showed you some of our interview with the President of the teacher's union. Today, we also took the opportunity to ask the President about the former Mopan Technical Teacher, Elito Puc, who was terminated by the Teaching Services Commission after some graphic evidence emerged showing that he was trying to prey on a male student.
The Minister of Education told us yesterday that his licenses have been revoked, he's been dismissed, and steps are being taken to make sure that he never teaches in Belize again. We also asked the BNTU President, whose union sits on the board of the Commission, about that decision to terminate that teacher. He told us that from the evidence, the appropriate action was taken:
Luke Palacio, President, Belize National Teachers Union
"The union, we do sit on the Teaching Service Commission. That is the body that is authorized to deal with the disciplining of teachers. There is a process that had to be followed, it called the "due process." The board of that institution made their complaints to the Teaching Commission. The commission met, they deliberated and determined that yes, the procedures were followed and all indications are that those 
offences were committed. Those offences that the individual were accused of or were committed to the satisfaction of the commission and so therefore yes, the commission made the ruling that the teacher be terminated and that his licensed be revoked. Again, we need to point out that, that teacher has a right to appeal to an appeals tribunal. He has 30 days in which to do that. We have no indication at the commission at this time if he intends to do so."
Puc has a right to appeal the decision of the Board.
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