Bus donated to trade school

Students often hear the phrase “Stay in School”, but sometimes their difficulty is even in getting there… But a donation today will go a long way in helping one Ladyville school that caters to a lot of students from Belize City. News Five was there for the handing over and to find out more about the institution.

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Since the Tubal Trade Institute opened its doors to young men and women, it has had its share of growing pains. However, the four year old educational centre has stayed the course and now offers programmes to one hundred and forty-five students.

Student
?The day I started at Tubal it was a blessing for me in my life.?

Student
?But most of all, I know most youths never get the opportunity that we got, but for us I think we should be serious about what we want in life.?

Student
?You do the same thing?I have to work most of the time, but I am just learning to work better.?

The institution mainly gives young men and women a second chance at learning a trade to help them become productive citizens.

Kay Alamina, Administrator, Tubal Trade Institute
?The school accepts everybody, realising that everyone has the need and has a talent and we are there to show them, to let them explore that talent. So we have kids who can?t read and write and we teach them to do something with their hands or to learn a trade.?

The students? talent is demonstrated in this display of art and craft that certainly can be sold to fund the schools programme.

Today the students celebrated not only their institution?s achievements, but a special contribution.

For some time now the school has struggled from a lack of transportation that prevented them from getting students to school and conducting field trips. This bus, a gift from the Ministry of National Development, should boost morale considerably. Minister of National Development Marl Espat promised his ministry?s continued support.

Mark Espat, Minister, National Development
?To give you the opportunity to improve your skills, to improve your education, and ultimately to improve your experience as a citizen of Belize. That is our job and we will try our best to do that.?

Kay Alamina
?It is to take the students to and from the city, to and from school. But whatever the need may be, a school trip, a field trip, the bus is going to be right there to take them.?

Most of the students come from Belize City?s south side.

Cordel Hyde, Area Rep., Lake Independence
?I am also happy that the government assisted in this project, because I am told that it costs the government four thousand dollars a year to house a prisoner at the Hattieville prison. Four thousand dollars! So why don?t we spend the money now on our youths rather than spend it later; it costs far less sending our youths to school.?

Anthony ?Boots? Martinez, Area Rep., Port Loyola
?It is very important to recognise that our young people are the future, irrespective of what political organisation we represent. What is very important in the equation is that we must move forward as a country and we must do the necessary thing that is necessary for us to move a country forward.?

Because there was no transportation some students dropped out, but after today?s event, the school might just see some familiar faces getting off their new bus. Jacqueline Woods for News Five.