New Junior College at Wesley College
In the confusion of yesterday’s fires and subsequent downtown power failures we were unable to bring viewers the story of a major step forward in the world of education: the dedication of a brand new junior college on the southside of Belize City. Patrick Jones was on hand.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
The spanking new two-story building on Yarborough Road will be the home to resurrected Wesley Junior College. Chairman of the Wesley College Board of Directors Reverend C. David Goff says the inauguration is a proud moment for the entire Methodist family.
Rev. C. David Goff, Chair., Board of Directors
“For the Methodist church in Belize it means that we are able to restore a component of our whole educational ministry that existed before. We were very sorry thirty years ago when we had to close our sixth form, and now that we are able to revive it we’re happy that our students here at Wesley College will have the option of remaining on this campus on Yarborough Road, a very familiar environment for them for four years and continue into tertiary level education.”
But while Goff sees the institution as the natural stepping-stone to higher education for Wesley Students, Dean of the Sixth Form, Brenda Armstrong says the doors are open to anyone who makes the grade.
Brenda Armstrong, Dean, Wesley Junior College
“As long as you’re a high school graduate and you have the foundation courses in English and Mathematics that are usually required, general proficiency, you can attend Wesley Junior College. We also will have a program called “Adult Continuing Ed” which is a certificate program. It offers you the person who has not yet gotten what it takes to be in the junior college level the chance to come and get that.”
That opportunity became available last year. Even without a roof over its head, the institution began offering associate degree programs in General studies. Armstrong says the plan now is to roll out five other courses, including information technology, business, and the special sciences in the new academic year.
Brenda Armstrong
“Well we couldn’t wait for this building and we’re happy that it exists now, but what we have been doing is making do with the classrooms we have. And so classes began last September in the Fourth Form block of the campus. As it is, the high school will share this building in the day. It will belong to the junior college in the evenings.”
Area representative, Mark Espat, says the opening of the Wesley Sixth Form should be seen as more than just cosmetic.
Mark Espat, Albert Area Representative
“What we gain in these classrooms should not only make us God-fearing Belizeans, but make us fear the fangs of poverty and the fangs of ignorance. Fear them so as to spur creativity, engender industry, and build community.”
Brenda Armstrong
“I am humbled to be the first dean and I take it as an honour that as woman on a whole we can continue to work in a partnership with men and younger persons as well across the ages to advance this country. I think it is fitting that it is Women’s Week, that the person at the helm is a woman, and I will take that as the challenge then to make the effort that I make even more genuine to make this school the best that it can be.”
Patrick Jones, for News 5.
The building was named in honour of former Wesley high school principal and circuit priest, Caleb Cousins. With the junior college project complete, Armstrong and Goff say their next undertaking will be the establishment of an institute of music on the Wesley compound.
