Teachers will celebrate in Belize City

On Friday teachers from across the country will converge on the M.C.C. Grounds in Belize City for a day of celebration in honor of their contribution to education. This year the Belize National Teachers Union has taken steps to ensure that Teachers’ Day is celebrated the way it was intended when it was first observed in 1984. According to Raul Castillo, B.N.T.U.’S President, for the first time they have decided to turn the observance into a national event.

Raul Castillo, President, B.N.T.U.

“It was originally intended to recognize and honor teachers for their contribution to education in Belize, but over the years we have lost sight of that and teachers have pretty much taken it to be a free day – a holiday for them to go off on pleasure trips and to do personal business, etc. So we are trying to refocus on the original purpose of the day by bringing teachers from all across the county into Belize City for one single organized event.”

Q: “How will the day be celebrated?”

Raul Castillo

“We will at the official ceremonies have teachers awards being presented. We are going to have a number of greeting messages from branches and a few officials in education. Following the official ceremonies we will be having a day of varied activities where we will be having sporting events both in team sports and other fun activities. We will be having an all day information fair which will feature about fifteen or so organizations that will come in to inform teachers on what they stand for and what they have to offer and we will be having cultural presentations throughout the day.”

Ceremonies kick off at nine thirty Friday morning at the M.C.C. Grounds. While the teachers will be reflecting on the importance of their profession, students will enjoy the freedom of a well deserved three day weekend.