Min. of Education meets denominational school managers

The managers of denominational schools met with their new Minister, Permanent Secretary and Chief Education Officer today during a workshop in Belize City. Among the primary concerns of those present were the need for some continuity with the policies and plans of the past administration but with a fresh approach, and the necessity of teacher involvement. News Five spoke with Minister Hyde about the job ahead.

Cordel Hyde, Minister of Education

“The problem is we’re not covering as many kids as we should. There are only so many kids finishing primary school, finishing high school, and for the amount of money we are spending on education, we are not getting enough back. So that we have to be creative with how the system is financed and managed to include as many kids as possible, reclaim all of the children who have been left out for all these years.”

Minister Hyde says that he and his Permanent Secretary Dorian Barrow and Chief Education Officer Cecil Reneau are particularly concerned by the poor condition of many schools in the rural areas, but he senses that the parents and teachers have the commitment to make the job of improvement easier.