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But, that call will most likely go unheeded tomorrow, which is when the teachers will hold their second national demonstration in 2 weeks. The strike continued today, and making good on their plan of action, we saw Belize City teachers going house-to-house, visiting residents to meet with them directly and share their reasons for the extended industrial action.

Last night, Deputy Prime Minister Patrick Faber told us that the Statutory Instrument to hire temporary teachers has been signed and today we learned that the Ministry of Education has already sent out application forms for teachers who want to be hired as temporary replacements. He said that his ministry would only bring the emergency measures into effect as a last resort, and that, â€œIt is my hope that we will not have to at all.â€￾

Well, the strike continues tomorrow, and the pressure on the Ministry to keep school opened is building. We’ve since gotten a copy of those application forms, and it looks like this.

It was sent in the form of a memorandum from the Chief Education Officer to the General Managers of the Schools countrywide It says, quote, “Kindly see attached for the completed Emergency Permit Application Form. The following procedures for Managing Authorities and Teaching Services Commission’s suitable qualified individuals are identified to carry out teaching duties in the event of an emergency.â€￾ End Quote.

All such suitably qualified individuals are expected to complete the emergency permit application form, along with supporting documents, a copy of the social security card, an authenticated copy of their highest education credentials, a copy of previous teaching licenses, and if applicable, a report on a medical examination. The applicants are expected to submit their application and the supporting documents, and an Education Licensing officer will verify them. If they are assessed as qualified applicants, the Licensing officer then enters the information into the database. The Licensing teacher will then have to run a background check at the Magistrate Court.

If they pass that qualifications and security check, the licensing officer then prepares the emergency permits, and it is given to the person so that he or she can start to fill in as temporary teachers.