…But will not lose their scholarships

Dr. Zabaneh reiterated that the students would still be given the opportunity to obtain their degrees, though he did say that the terms of the scholarship would change to include a greater obligation on the part of the students. Zabaneh stands by the action and by the importance of the message, and in fact says that despite some negative feedback they may receive, the students are actually fortunate that the repercussions were not more severe, since there will be no additional financial cost to the students.

Louis Zabaneh, President, Galen University

Louis Zabaneh

“Fortunately, there will be none and indeed remember now this is a very lenient offer to them. They can continue to do their degree and that is because we have been committed to their academic success. But we have to take a stand on things like that. We have this so called thing in Belize called ‘Belize time’—why do we measure ourselves by a lower bar? The universities have to be the place in which these things change. And if we don’t take a stand or the leadership on these things, then forever we will be measuring ourselves to lower standards and these things have to change. They have to sign now an academic scholarship agreement which all academic scholars have to sign and that requires of them certain hours of service for the scholarships that they are getting. One of the things we want our students to develop at Galen, besides acquiring the academic knowledge that they gain, is a love for work and appreciation of sacrificing for what you get because then that degree has more value to them. So all our scholarship students sign a contract with us in which they have a certain number of hours in which they have to give service—whether it is to do certain things within the university or to do community service, etc. We are always concerned about any feedback that is based on inaccurate information. If the information is inaccurate, we want to make sure that it is corrected. So first of all I want to commend you for calling in to get the facts from our side. One of the things that I understand was said on Facebook was that the students lost their scholarships and that is not correct. The parents who came and who stayed back would inform you that I made it very clear to them that that commitment is our number one priority, but that these young gentlemen need to understand that this has great value and there are many other young Belizeans who want these opportunities.”

According to Zabaneh the parents of the students who were penalized were surprised at the action taken, but in the end grateful that the students would still have the opportunity to continue towards their degrees under an academic scholarship.