Overcrowded schools turn away students
For many children all over Belize City it was a day of anticipation as school reopened after the long summer break. But while things ran smoothly for the majority, there were also little ones who were turned away. Not because their parents couldn’t pay school fees or buy their books or uniforms, but because there simply isn’t enough space. As News Five found out, the problem was compounded by parents who put off registering their children until it was too late.
The students returning to school in new uniforms and sporting fancy school supplies… how long the look will last is anyone’s guess but for the moment it seems the older children, although camera shy, were glad to be back at school.
Q: “You like coming to school?”
Boy
(nods head)
Q: “So you were happy to come back to school?”
Boy
“Yes.”
Q: “The teacher welcome you back to school?”
Boy
“Yes.”
Q: “And ask you to do what, work hard this new school year?”
Boy
“Yes.”
Q: “You promise to do that?”
Boy
“Yes.”
While some students were happy to be with their friends again, others were shedding tears. As expected the first day of school was hard on the beginners.
Q: “It’s your first time at school?”
Daniel Melgar, Beginner
“Yes.”
Q: “But don’t cry. You miss mommy?”
Daniel Melgar
(cries)
After the children were made comfortable in their new classes it was time for them to get down to work. As the new school year gets underway, there are several things the principals would want their students to keep in mind.
Anita Wade, Principal, St. John Vianney School
“School can be a place for fun; also it is a place for learning. We would like them to take their learning seriously and do their homework, especially homework.”
Lois Neal, Principal, Ebenezer Primary School
“But it takes the children to work along with us and the parents too. If we all work together — teachers, parents and children — I think that we can make a mark in this area.”
Olga Neal, Principal, St. Luke Methodist
“They shouldn’t wander off the school premises and if anybody should come up to them and ask them anything that they feel uncomfortable with, they should try to get away, get to a teacher as soon as possible.”
Jacqueline Woods
“But while thousands of children were able to attend school, there were many boys and girls who remained at home because they simply could not get in.”
The principals say the problem is due to late registration and overcrowding in our primary schools.
Anita Wade
“That was a great problem this morning and it is sad because I had to turn back many, many this morning. It is sad to see children’s faces being turned back because parents brought the children along with them, and especially in this area where we don’t have space for the children in the Port Loyola area and a lot of children had to be turned back.”
Olga Neal
“A lot of parents wait until too late because we have registration in June, you know, and there was some space. But some parents I do not know what they were doing and they are just coming in and there are some classes we just cannot take some children in because they are overcrowded. It is actual space that we need and we have to say no to some children.”
Lois Neal
“It is so hectic. We have people coming in for registration, then trying to sit the children because we have a problem of overcrowding. Finding seats for teachers and for children, oh, oh, oh.”
News Five was unable to reach anyone in the Ministry of Education who could comment on how many children are registered for primary school this year or the extent of the overcrowding. One principal we spoke to had to turn down a child who came all the way from Bermudian Landing because there was no space there. Other parents actually bought uniforms for their children in the hope this would force the schools to take them in.
In addition to overcrowding, St. John Vianney School had the added problem of no electricity. On Sunday morning a truck knocked down some wires, including their weatherhead system. According to B.E.L., ordinarily this problem would have to be handled by a private electrician but because B.E.L. recently donated paint to the school and has a good relationship with the staff, today they hired a contractor to carry out the work. Following the repair of the weatherhead, B.E.L. then reconnected the school’s electricity. B.E.L. says it will not be charging St. John Vianney for the service.
