Association of principals meets to discuss crime problem
Belize has been dubbed murder capital number one because of the per capita murder rate. On October fifth to the ninth, Channel Five’s Open Your Eyes dedicated a week’s program to the burning issue of violent crime. Another organization is joining the effort to address the crime crisis. The Belize Association of Principals met today with different organizations and the discussions brought out several proposals that can focus the energies in a more positive direction. News Five’s Delahnie Bain attended the meeting at St. Catherine Auditorium.
Delahnie Bain, Reporting
Because the youths are becoming more and more involved in criminal activity or are falling victims of crime, the Belize Association of Principals called together the public and private sectors as well as churches, human service organizations and the media to try to find solutions.
Brenda Armstrong, Secretary National Association of Principals
“We have been doing our own part individually within our school communities and after a period of time, that in itself becomes a little wearying. And we just thought that it might be a better idea to try a more multi-disciplinary approach to broaden our base and include other so that this attempt to rescue the youth is not only our job because really and truthfully it has to be everybody’s job.”
Samuel Sukhnandan, Principal, Nazarene High School
“As principals, we grapple with the same problems that society has and there are a number of incidents of crime and violence that affect our schools across the country. So as a principal of a secondary school it was very important that I be a part of this forum and this discussion.”
The ideas coming out ranged from the cause of the violence in youths to what steps need to be taken to alleviate the problem.
Samuel Sukhnandan
“I believe that lack of parental guidance for our kids have played a significant role in the out lawlessness in our society. I believe that students are not involved in activities that are meaningful. I believe that the kind of music that they listen to is so vulgar and inappropriate and I also believe that the way we spend public funding for education, we also need to examine so we include a vast amount of students in our society to be part of a school system.”
Jane Bennett, Head of UWI Open Campus in Belize
“We need to acknowledge there are children who will never be top performers and for some reason we ignore the fact that some of these youth, the reasons why they drop out of schools is because we are not engaging them. We need to find out what are people’s realities. What is it that I can do within my capacity?”
Brenda Armstrong
“The role of the media in the dissemination of information to the public; what kind of news and what kind of images we portray. That was one of the issues we touched on. The importance of alternative forms of education; it’s not all academics, it has to do with the creative arts and sports and things like that.”
One school that has made a step in the right direction is Gwen Lizaragga High school, and according to principal, Lorna McKay their new evening courses have given a number of youths a second chance.
Lorna McKay, Principal, Gwen Lizaragga High School
“One hundred and forty-eight people have been moved into an institution where they can get a general education diploma. And that will assist them with giving them the necessary skills to move forward and either find a job eventually or to be able make decisions within themselves or among the community in which they live.”
Those attending the meeting all agreed that if today’s suggestions are implemented, there should some ease in violence among our youth. Delahnie Bain for News Five.
Each of the organizations represented have been designated to take on different areas of the initiative along with government. The group is expected to have a follow up meeting in the next two to three weeks.
