New rules raise teacher standards
A set of new education guidelines promoting “life long learning” has been made into policy. The document Education Rules 2000, has been signed by Minister of Education, Cordel Hyde. It determines how Belizean schools are administered and sets the standards for teacher education and licensing. John Pinelo, President of the Belize National Teachers Union, said that the BNTU has been working closely with the Education ministry for nearly seventeen years.
John Pinelo, President, Belize National Teachers Union
“This one we have signed includes people from preschools, primary and secondary, that is what the rules cover. To us it seems to be a document that will help us to be able to do a better job of delivering education in Belize. It has rules not only for teachers, but also for students, parents, managers and even for the ministry. All of us are involved when it comes covered by the rules. When you talk about qualifications, at present we have teachers who have just started, who are given three years to qualify, maybe pass an examination. After they pass that one, another three years, pass another one. But when you’re talking about qualifications in this case, what will be looked on is that those people who are trying. You do your three years and maybe for some reason, you cannot complete a course that you should have complete and if you have a good reason, you can be excused, but if you don’t have a good reason, then you might be asked to leave and find another profession. But another thing that people are concerned about has to do with the licensing of teachers. The licensing of teachers is merely to encourage teachers to improve and update themselves.”
Pinelo says that new teachers will be granted a provisional license and in necessary instances will be given special permits. Teachers will be required to obtain one hundred and twenty hours of college training to retain a license. The Ministry of Education is sponsoring workshops throughout the country to help teachers earn the credits needed for licensing.
