National education council begins work
It’s not a high profile body, but its dozen members possess a wealth of experience that should provide crucial support in the effort to provide the nation with quality education. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods reports.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Today, the National Council for Education met for the first time to do some basic housekeeping. According to Chief Education Officer, Maud Hyde, the N.C.E. will advise the Minister of Education, the Chief Education Officer and the entire educational sector on the delivery and provision of education in the country. The council will be guided by subcommittees that will address specific educational issues.
Maud Hyde, Chief Education Officer
“There are subcommittees that look at early childhood education, primary education, quality issues, subcommittees that look at provisions of schools, actually approving he building of new schools, locating these schools throughout the country.”
Hyde says because the education sector is large the N.C.E. will have a challenging tasks. But the members are all committed to making the changes needed to improve the quality of education…like the way specific subjects like math, reading, English and science are taught in classrooms.
Maud Hyde
“If you look at what is happening in teacher training, we have been relying on the limited resources of U.B. to be able to meet the teacher development needs in the country and because of that there are many persons who are unable to access training and not only to a degree level, but in service training which should keep the development process going where a teacher is concerned. So certainly there is much work to be able to expand the system. We are looking at expanding the Associate programme for teachers, so that more teachers will be able to find access to a teacher training at their districts.”
Although the N.C.E. will advise government on educational matters, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minster, Francis Fonseca, says they have already identified certain areas as high priority.
Francis Fonseca, Minister in the P.M.’s Office
“The first five years of a child’s life are unquestionable the critically defining formative ones. So we want to see new and improved preschools through the country, but we feel that the ad hoc manner in which they are presently coming about must stop.”
“We must be very concerned about the continuing performance of many of our young students in the P.S.E., particularly in some of our underprivileged and rural communities. Our teachers of course have to be better trained and equipped; our classrooms have to have the resources and perhaps fewer students in them; the resources available should be more effective and efficient in the delivery of education.”
“Special education is very important, great importance to our government and the ministry attaches to the provision of special education to children with special needs cannot be overstated.”
“In literacy as you know, we have for a long time boasted loudly about the high literacy rate in Belize. And yes, comparatively we have done well, but in a sense we have begun to believe too much of our own rhetoric. We need to make a renewed commitment and a deliberate and concerted effort to raise our literacy rate. It must be a national but focussed programme. We must be guided by our experts in this area on the way forward.”
Fonseca reinforced government’s commitment to make secondary education available to all, but admits that it will be some time before that goal will be accomplished. He also outlined plans to improve and expand adult education. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
During the N.C.E.’s inaugural meeting the election of officers was held. Elected as chairperson was Alice Castillo, while her deputy is Clement Wade. Other members include Maud Hyde, Sonia Linares, Anthony Fuentes, Jose Mai, Inez Sanchez, Dolores Godfrey, Louise Barber, Mercy Cervantes, Marina Woodye and Leroy Flowers.
