M.O.E. to Visit Maya Mopan Village to Address Concerns at School

On Friday, Maya Mopan Village Alcalde Constancio Teul visited News Five’s studios on Coney Drive to send a message to the Ministry of Education—parents were not going to send their children to the primary school for one week starting today in protest of the school’s administration. For some time now, the parents have been at odds with the principal and teachers over various issues. The matter of the time classes were called in was resolved back in November, but there are other matters that have not been addressed. Those include instances where students were locked out of the classrooms when teachers did not show up to school. Teul asked for the Ministry of Education to get involved and today Chief Education Officer, Doctor Carol Babb, confirmed to News Five that a visit will be made to the village on Wednesday.

Carol Babb

Dr. Carol Babb, Chief Education Officer

“According to the Alcalde, the parents were concerned that the principal and teachers wanted to start school earlier, at eight a.m.; we have reverted back to eight-thirty a.m., so that issue has been resolved. The general manager and the local manager and the D.E.C. manager, we are going there on Wednesday to try to meet with the parents and to find out what other issues exist and to try to find a way to resolve those issues as well.”

Andrea Polanco

“The Alcalde seemed to be very upset about this situation. Was there perhaps a miscommunication?”

Dr. Carol Babb

“I think there was a miscommunication because according to our general manager, the problem has been addressed from November so I don’t know what the issue is. But I know for a fact the issue of the starting of the school day is now at eight-thirty and not at eight a.m. as suggested by the principal and teachers.”