11,000 school-aged youths out of school
When we report on violence in Belize City, many times we don’t reveal the names of all the persons apprehended by the police for the crime. That is because the suspects are minors. During the Prime Minister’s Restore Belize Press Conference on Wednesday, Education and Youth Minister, Patrick Faber revealed that there might be as many as eleven thousand primary school age students who have fell out of the school system. Faber said that they will find a way to get these youths back into a classroom, even if it isn’t the traditional classroom.
Patrick Faber, Minister of Education and Youth
“There are many of our primary school age students who are not in school. The figures are almost eleven thousand. We are waiting for the 2010 census of course to confirm these kinds of figures. But it’s an alarming number of primary age who are not in school. If they are not in primary school they are not in high school either. A major part of the problem in Belize City as you know is that many of these young people who are engaged in the crime and violence are within that age that they should be in school. The laws of this country say that once you’re between the ages of five and fourteen should be enrolled in school. And we see now many of our thirteen, fourteen—young men especially—engaging in crime; fifteen year olds engaged in crime. We are proposing in the Ministry of Education to put together a program that will take up to fifteen hundred young kids between the ages of ten and fifteen years old and to find a place for them in our education system. We are going to unveil the details of that plan a little bit later on but understand that we are not going to have as acceptable, a situation where a child graduates from primary school this year and does not go on to high school because of finance. And I am talking about a program that the government will find funding for. It may not be the same education of a high school education. We are looking at a reduced curriculum of maybe math literacy life skills certainly. We are going to embrace the Lion’s Quest Curriculum that has been used in so many of our schools.”
Faber said that the reason why the thousands of kids are not in the classrooms is not only because our education system is failing them, but the community is failing them. He indicated that the Youth Hostel at mile twenty-two on the Western Highway and the former Venus Terminal on Magazine Road are facilities that can be utilized in this effort. Faber said that his ministry will also initiate a hotline to report all cases of truancy.
This is an alarming story. We have a significant proportion of our youths (5-16) who should be in full time education on the streets? Is it any wonder that we have such high crime rate? As the old proverb goes “The devil finds work for idle hands to do”. Quite frankly I am appalled that this Minister doesn’t seem to take any responsibility for the failures of his Ministry.
From his interview one would assume he just took office a few weeks ago and therefore keen on cleaning up things. The Ministry of Education surely is responsible for ensuring that the teachers are trained `appropriately, that schools in Belize are truly accessible to all children under the age of 16 (either free of cost or on a means tested basis), and by working with other agencies to enforce the law of truancy.
I applaud that the Minister is acknowledging that there has been failures but I’m afraid “The Buck Stop With You”, so no more excuses. Therefore roll up your sleeves and start working. These children are truly the future of Belize and from where I am sitting our country’s future looks pretty grim.
1500 hundred y serious Patrick what happens to the other 9500 are they to continue roaming the street.. boy come betta than this …mein dats when u give lee bway a big man Job. Ridiculous is what u are, just plain ridiculous…
I want to see the breakdown by geographic area among this group of 11,000. Guess I will have to wait for the 2010 Census results to be released.
I especially want to see how the figures in Belize City compare to the rest of the country. I’m thinking that children not attending school in rural areas (where they can help with subsistence farming, etc.) are less prone to becoming involved with crime than the kids in Belize City.
Patrick Faber likes to play politics. He is responsible for the death of Charles Goode, don’t forget that.
Charles Goode was being manipulated by the Opposition.
He fell into the trap of a political game.
This issue did not happen overnight. It has been brewing a long time ago and it can not be solve over night. It did not take 3 years to get to this point. We must start somewhere; unfortunately Belize’s resources are very limited. Citizens should also take charge and not wait for GOB to do something. Lets each one grab a child and sponsor, mentor, report or something that will get them to school. Let us volunteer at the schools and help the teachers. Parents pay more attention to your kids.
Minister Faber has already done an amazing job by simply acknowledging the fact that this is a problem. That’s the first step of making any kind of progress. You people act like politicians have the capability to make miracles happen. The last time i checked the government before them did not make any better decisions. I was still in high school when the PUP government was in power and i got zero assistance. I do not even remember who the Minister of Education was at that time. At least Minister Faber is making things public. The government is not the only body of people responsible of the crime in Belize. The entire society had changed and that’s not the government’s fault. It’s just the times we live in. So instead of bad mouthing, why don’t you try to give some support or maybe some helpful suggestions.
One would assume that since Belize is a “Democratic country”. This means that people should be free to voice their views on issues they feel strongly about it. We would like to move away from old style politics, and so hold our government officials accountable for their office. It is not intended to be some sort of character assassination. Look at Obama; he gets mud slung at him on a daily basis. Since he lives in a democratic country he sucks it up and get on the job. Most people who make comments feel passionate about Belize and its social issues and are usually speaking for the silent major.
There will always be opposing views about any topic put forward and this can be a source of lively debate. However, I find it distasteful when this forum used to be libellous and exploit a situation. Likewise I find it astonishing that it seems some people can become offended on behalf of others. I would like to see channel5 introduce a policy where the use of pseudonyms is banned. If you have something to say, then you should be happy to put your names to it.
This is yet the most disturbing report.
Politicians usually say things they think the people want to hear, before being voted in it’s all about education and medi-care. I do not only blame the politicians for this problem, parents are as much to be blamed for this disaster. Because the wisest and smartest parents in the world wants “education” for their children.
Among all the chaos in Belize people seem to forget to start educating their kids for their future, without any education your children and your society will failed, miserably.
The kids of Belize should not be on their own in this situation though, the government should pave the pathway to ensure excellence, this factor lies within the schools as well.
Belize needs new minds to lead Belize, it is too easy for kids to fall out of school in Belize, parents should be forced to send their kids to schools at any cost, many times when kids failed their parents and their schools are to be blame.
Have any of you thought that POVERTY might be the main reason why children are not in school… Lack of reasonable paychecks and unemployed workers cause and increase school drop out rates. Now they are blaming it on violence (which is partially correct). I do not think raising the peoples salary would be hurtful. if they can buy a couple hundred of vehicles as they enter the system they can also raise the salaries….