School burglary bodes ill for computer programme
It’s not an unusual news story by any means, but the latest break in at a Belize City primary school is reminding officials that the impending installation of five thousand computers in Belizean schools will not come without problems.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Police are still following up on information that may lead to the arrest of the person or persons who broke into the Sister Clara Muhammed School and stole seven thousand dollars worth of supplies. The burglars gained access to the building by wrenching out the burglar bar over the principal’s window. That principal, Lana Muhammed, says it will not be easy to replace the items, particularly since her school serves the city’s poorest neighbourhoods.
Lana Ahmad, Principal, Sis. Clara Muhammed School
“I think immediately we would like to appeal for help. Whatever anybody or any organisation that is in position to assist, we welcome that. Because finance is always a problem with schools, always a problem. We have three hundred and forty-five students and most of them are children from poverty stricken backgrounds. They are not in a position to help us, we can’t appeal to the parents for help, they will be helping the little they can, but nothing that will really make a difference, so we need to appeal to the wider community.”
This latest school break-in happened at a time when most schools are anxiously preparing to receive large numbers of computers from the Government. According to Ahmad, they have already been informed that before they will be able to receive the valuable donation, the school’s management will have to make sure that the room where the computers will be stored, is properly secured.
Lana Ahmad
“As a matter of fact, we had a gentleman who came over this morning from the Ministry of Education to look at the space we have available to house these computers that are suppose to be coming into the schools. And one of the things he identified is security, and that is one of the areas that management is seriously focusing on right now because obviously it is not a wise idea to put anything of such value into an area that can be lost within the next day.”
Ahmad says because they are financially strapped, they plan to hold several fundraising drives to get the money needed to strengthen the school’s security. Jacqueline Woods reporting for News 5.
If you can help the school recover from this setback, please call Lana Muhammed at telephone number 75589.
