Education C.E.O. Blocking Out Noise on School Warden Program

Earlier this week, a number of security school wardens were given their walking papers and replaced. The former school wardens cried foul, claiming that they were being politically victimized by the Briceño administration. The United Democratic Party, in the wake of the firings, issued a statement saying that twenty wardens from the Belize and Stann Creek Districts were let go without any social support in place and called on intervention by the Special Envoy for Development of Families and Children as well as the Minister of Education. Today, Education C.E.O., Dian Maheia, reiterated that there must be a cleanup of the school security warden program, and that she is not focused on the noise in the market.

Dian Maheia, C.E.O., Ministry of Education

“We are at a time where it is really critically important that we make sure that we have people we can rely on, we have people that we know will be reporting to work, we know we have people who will reflect discipline and responsibility and respect in all that they do. No one, I think, really wants to have their children exposed to elements that are disrespectful and in any way unfavourable, right. So we have to be very careful. This is where we are. We continue to monitor, we continue to work – it is not an easy fix. The time is now because this is not about victimization; this is about our schools, this is about our children.”

Dian Maheia

Reporter

“The opposition is saying that yes you all are getting rid of people, but you need people and it is political victimization. You are just hiring other people.”

Dian Maheia

“Well, I am sure they are saying that, but we are working. My job right here. Father of the Nation said “Yo have to be like ramsey mule some times. Yo put on yo blinders and yo stay focus on the work that you have to do.” We have work to do. We don’t have time to be paying attention to what everybody out there is saying. We are responsible for the education of our children and we need to make sure that their environments are safe and secure. We need to do whatever it is that we can to provide as best as we can.”