Managers Are Responsible for Each School During Strike

Luke Palacio

The Ministry of Education has confirmed that it will be meeting on Wednesday afternoon with the managers of various groups of schools to discuss plans and contingencies for Monday’s strike action by the Belize National Teachers’ Union. The Union’s members are being asked to stay out of school for that one day. While the Union claims that some managers are backing its action, there is absolutely nothing that stops teachers from going or not going to school. But he reiterated that managers do have the ultimate responsibility for what happens at each school.

Luke Palacio, National President, B.N.T.U.

“But we are saying to these same school leaders, we are saying to these same managers, you turn to these same teachers for fundraising. You turn to these teachers when ministry gives you some problems; you want the teachers support. And very importantly, the government gives the schools a salary grant that comes from taxpayers’ money. And if those school leaders believe that they must do the biddings of the new masters, if you will, we cannot stop them, we cannot force them not to. But our teachers, our members and there are principals and there are school managers who are supporting this union and we applaud them every single day. And again, we are not saying to anybody close down the schools. We are saying we will not be at school. The school belongs to the managers; open your school, but also be prepared for any liability that happens to these children because you have decided that you are not prepared to stand up for Belize and for good governance by saying to parents…by getting on the media and saying to parents, send your children to school; they will be taken care of.”