MOE Knows About Graham Creek Teachers’ Hardship

Carol Babb

The arduous journey that teachers of Graham Creek Government School embark upon in order to carry out their responsibility of teaching children in one of Belize’s most southern villages continues to take center stage. The trek highlights the hardships that some teachers have to go through at a time when the Belize National Teachers Union is at odds with the Ministry of Education over the re-categorization of hardship allowances and time off. Chief Education Officer Doctor Carol Babb told news five that she was not shocked at what she saw because the Ministry is aware of the conditions that the teachers have to endure. According to Doctor Babb, the Ministry is in the process of constructing a teachers’ quarters for Graham Creek Government School.

Dr. Carol Babb, Chief Education Officer, M.O.E.

“We have district education centers in every district and our officers go to those schools too even those schools that are in difficult areas, hard to reach, remote. We are looking at those schools too to see what other support we can provide to them. The Ministry of Education recently refurbished that school and we are in the process in building a teacher’s house for that school. So we are aware of these issues. We visit these schools. I have not been there but my education officer goes there at least twice per year.”

Hipolito Novelo

“When you saw the footage, when you saw what the teachers went through and what Andrea went through were you shock?”

Dr. Carol Babb

“I wasn’t shock because I am aware of that condition. I was told that is the only way you can go there. Our officers share with us what they go through to get there.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Do you believe that they deserve more than two hundred dollars worth of hardship allowance?”

Dr. Carol Babb

“As I said, it is up for discussion and we are having a meeting and we are going to discuss that.”