B.T.L. lends a hand to city school. . .
On yesterday’s newscast we reported on a school in Dangriga seeking help to upgrade its overcrowded facilities. This morning News Five’s Marion Ali visited a school in Belize City that is already beginning to enjoy the improvements provided by a generous benefactor.
Marion Ali, Reporting
In June of this year B.T.L. announced that it would initiate an “Adopt a School” programme, with its first school being Bethel Primary on Freetown Road in Belize City. Almost four months and seventy thousand dollars later, phase one of the project is complete. It’s an investment that B.T.L’s Public Relations Executive, Linette Canto, says involved a lot of work.
Linette Canto, Public Relations Executive, B.T.L.
“What we had to do was physically refurbish the school, painting, doing replacement of windows, doors, refurbishing the insides of the classrooms, things like that.”
“We built on their computer lab. When we started they didn’t have any computer that was in working condition and we felt that in this day and age children really need to be able to utilize the services of the internet. So what we did was provide them with six brand new computers which are now up and running and full internet facilities, so they’re able to use the internet any time of the day, any day of the week. We have totally refurbished their bathroom facilities which we felt was something that was really needed.”
The investment, says school Principal Edward Logan, has not only transformed Bethel’s physical condition, but has also lifted the morale of the one hundred and ten children students and seven teachers.
Edward Logan, Bethel Primary School Principal
“Inside even though it’s not full partitioned, they put some beautiful curtains and so on that gave a sense of separation and privacy for each classroom. We know that with the much-improved infrastructure it is even more possible to give them a quality education in an environment where they will feel comfortable.”
Marion Ali
“How you feel this will affect their performance?”
Edward Logan
“Well we expect them to want to be in school and to see school in a more positive way and it should show in their grades, when they take exams and after they leave from school they should have positive values. When things are in place that people feel comfortable with they are less inclined to be delinquent on their jobs and so on and we have seen it that our teachers feel more comfortable teaching in this environment.”
The three-year project entails two more phases. Canto says the next step will focus on what goes on inside the newly renovated classrooms.
Linette Canto
“We’re also working on a mentorship programme where employees of our company are willing to dedicate their time to come into the school and actually mentor the students. We have done official training. We have Dr. Leigh, who is a mentorship trainer who does training abroad and he actually came into the country and he facilitated training with Telemedia employees, so now they have the tools that they need to come into the school and to assist the teachers with mentoring and this will be done every Friday. So every Friday you will have employees of the company coming into the school and assisting.”
The effort thus far, Canto says, has been well-received.
Linette Canto
“Even the parents are excited. The children are just getting the experience of being in their refurbished classrooms, using the library, using the computers. They seem to be excited too. So I think all in all it has been a positive experience.”
Marion Ali, reporting for News Five.
Phase three of the project involves the renovation of a building to be used for a school feeding programme and teachers lounge. While that is going on B.T.L. will be looking for another school to work with.
