M.O.E. Meets with Maya Mopan Villagers; Issues Are Aired Out
As scheduled, the Ministry of Education was in Maya Mopan Village to look into why parents are keeping their children at home. Today marked the third day since over ninety students have not attended classes and parents have reported that they will be keeping them at home through the rest of the week. Chief Education Officer Doctor Carol Babb and other education officials report that the meeting was productive and well-attended. Doctor Babb told News Five via phone that they addressed the problems and she hopes that parents will come to reason and send the children to school. Doctor Babb says that many of the issues brought up at the meeting were petty and were resolved. She did point out that perhaps villagers want to dictate who teaches at the school and they had to establish some lines with the community.
On the Phone: Dr. Carol Babb, Chief Education Officer
“The Alcalde had said that the parents were not going to come out, but the community center was packed. It was well attended. We addressed the all the issues that came up. The major issue was the start of school and the close of school and that was already resolved. In my opinion, the other matters that came to our attention, those were not so serious. So, I don’t know why the parents are keeping their children away from school. So, I was accompanied by the General Manager of Government Schools and the District Manager for the Stann Creek District. And so we addressed all the matters and we clearly defined roles because the parents believe that if they don’t want a teacher at the school that they can say fire this teacher or fire that teacher and the teacher would go but it doesn’t work like that. So, we had a very good turnout and I begged the parents to kindly send back their children to school and I am hoping that they will do that tomorrow and Friday.”
Andrea Polanco
“Did the parents make any commitment today, Dr. Babb, about they are going to do for the rest of the week?”
On the Phone: Dr. Carol Babb
“The majority of them said that they would not send their children back but after the meeting we were made to understand by some individual parents, that because of their culture and the Alcalde system they are afraid to send their culture because of the consequences if they don’t follow what the Alcalde and other people are saying.”
Andrea Polanco
“Were you able to dialogue with the Alcalde today?”
On the Phone: Dr. Carol Babb
“Yes. I spoke with the Alcalde. He and I had a very good discussion. As a matter of fact, he was the one who told me that the parents didn’t come out and the parents did come out. He and I spoke very well together and I emphasized the importance about the children attending school and in this matter the children are the ones suffering.”
Doctor Babb says that she is hopeful that more students will show up to classes on Thursday.
