For students across Belize, classes resumed today after the Easter vacation. And while there's a holiday on Thursday, their schools may also be closed again on Wednesday. That's because the BNTU is planning to have district meetings with members from all over the country. They informed the Ministry of Education with a memo dated April 24th and asked them to allow members to attend.
The next day MOE replied, stating that they felt that the tone of the memo was, quote, "directive rather than collaborative."
They added, quote, "The timing of the notice provided is insufficient... Advance notifications of this nature are necessary to ensure that proper arrangements can be made by managing authorities and administrators to ensure the continuity of instruction. It also facilitates better planning and coordination among all stakeholders." End quote. They then ask the BNTU to resubmit their request, providing a more adequate notice period.
But the BNTU is still planning to meet on Wednesday, and the president is asking members to come out in numbers:
Nadia Caliz, President, BNTU
"As a responsible organization, we have decided that it is time for you to formally register that discontent. Again, being a responsible entity, we have notified our stakeholders of the action that we're about to take. Why? They are custodians of children, they need to know how to prepare for Wednesday. That memo that was sent out to our stakeholders in no shape or form is disrespectful. This is what we do when we are getting ready to register our discontent because that is the table at which we are currently sitting."
"On Monday we saw 1,995 teachers coming out to that convention, history in the making. The first time we have seen that. Now, we need for you to come out in record breaking numbers on Wednesday. You know why, members? You asked us for that platform to formally register your discontent and the only way we can continue is if you go out and vote and give us the mandate."
"I was surprised on Friday when I received calls from teachers who have been working, were being paid, met the criteria for a new license before the expiration date but somebody at the ministry did not notify the treasury so our teachers were kicked out of the system and they were not being paid and this has been happening now two months. that should never happen because we have an agreement."
We'll be there to let you know how it goes on Wednesday.
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