Children make input on Education Summit

Consultation has become the mantra of the twenty-first century good governance movement, and while we sometimes get carried away with the concept, the feedback facilitated today in Belize City seemed to make a good deal of sense.

Maud Hyde, Chief Education Officer

“We feel that our students, our children have a voice. We need to hear from them, they are the receivers in the education system.”

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

Today it was the students? turn to join in the ongoing consultations that are leading up to the National Education Summit in May. The students participating are from the upper primary and secondary schools.

Maud Hyde

“We are sure that they can share with us some of the things that they would like to see done differently. Some, perhaps increasing opportunity for them by way of receiving the kind of education that they may feel may be more relevant to their development.”

According to the Ministry of Education, children ages three to seventeen are the major users of our education services. Two of those students, thirteen year old Immanuel Westby and sixteen year old Glenroy McDonald had a few suggestions of their own about what they believe is needed.

Immanuel Westby, Student, Wesley Upper Primary School

“Probably I think that may be we should get more evening class and morning classes so that we could have more practice in school. Since the P.S.E. is coming up too, we should get more practice.?

Glenroy McDonald, Student, Anglican Cathedral College

“I think more facilities, more libraries, more books in the libraries. I think we need more computers, sometimes I think we need better teachers. I think teachers are not qualified to deal with the students.”

The children’s consultation started today in Belize City and are expected to continue through Friday with sessions in Orange Walk, Dangriga and Punta Gorda. Jacqueline Woods reporting for News 5.

The results of these consultations will form part of the working documents of the education summit.