Ministry Of Education Belize
The Barrow Administration has been in government for a few weeks shy of two years. That means that it is a time for some stock-taking and the first to take up the challenge is the Ministry of Education. That Ministry has forged ahead with tough policy decisions, perhaps more than any other. And depending on who you listen to, they’ve either done the most progressive or the most unremarkable work. But, for sure, they have remained engaged at the forefront of the national dialogue and today they held an event to catalogue their accomplishments. And, like any feast of unchecked self-congratulation, it took a while. I was there throughout.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting: The tedious three hour long presentation offered a detail, perhaps too detailed overview of the work accomplished by the Ministry of Education over the past two years and outlined the plan forward. It addressed many issues from the state of the economy to crime and the commitment that MOE’s main client, the children of Belize will not be ignored and left.
In his address to the large gathering of educators and stakeholders in education, Minister of Education Patrick Faber stated that the situation demands that business does not continue as usual rather the challenges that confront the education system and the society at large should compel all of us to action.
Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
“We know that for many Belizeans the impact of the global economic crisis on Belize is of great concern. We also know that in the face of crime and violence in Belize, that Belizeans are concerned about their safety and security. If you have not been personally affected by these issues then you probably know someone who has. Where we are today did not happen over night. My friends we cannot continue to do the same things and expect different results. That is why I am calling on all educational stakeholders, all Belizeans, in making those difficult decisions to do things differently. Change we must and change we can. We need your support because it is everybody’s business.”
Today’s press conference included a Power Point presentation by the Chief Executive Officer David Leacock. The display familiarized the audience with the new organizational structure in the Ministry of Education.
The Chief Education Officer Christopher Aird gave an overview of the various councils that have helped in the task of making better the education in Belize like the National Council for Education that includes representation from the MOE, school principals, NGOs, the Teacher’s Union, professionals in education, business community and parents. What is their role? To advise the Minister and his Ministry on issues affecting education in all areas in the delivery of the service.
Christopher Aird, Chief Education Officer
“Relations between managements and teachers, it includes concerns of the sectors of the education system where improvements and changes might be under consideration such as the expansion of the coverage of childhood education. I would like to also say that we are serving clients whose numbers are increasing daily. We need to find ways to serve more and more children and ultimately all children which is part of our vision, which is part of the drive of the Ministry of Education now.”
The National Council for Education at times will also serve as an arbitration panel to address disputes and appeals. Then there is a National Council for Technical and Vocational Education that it is proposed will be incorporated into a Single Education Act.
Christopher Aird,
“The proposed revised act is also acknowledging the vision of this Ministry, that there ought not to be a complete separation of those sectors of the education system because they represent a total whole and if we are to ensure that we are indeed on a road to catering to all children, our strategies would have to be such.”
The National Council for Technical and Vocational Education is represented by NGOs, National Trade Union Congress, Association of Professional Engineers, Labour Department, Tourism Board, Chamber of Commerce and Belize Business Bureau, Human Development Department, Enterprise Development Agency, PUC and Ministry of Agriculture.
Finally the Regional Education Councils as legislated in the proposed revisions to the educational act will soon become district educational councils. Today’s gathering was also introduced to the heads of education services and heads of district education centres
Other accomplishments highlighted was the three hundred dollar subsidy for some seven thousand primary and secondary students, high school equivalency programmes for out of school youths and an increase of finance to $8.6 million to fund scholarships. The Ministry of Education in its quest for excellence has committed to be more responsible, accountable and transparent.
It was also noted that there are 1,220 students on scholarships at the University of Belize and an additional two thousand, nine hundred and fourteen are presently receiving financial grants.
The Minister of Education Patrick Faber also took time in winding up his presentation to deny recent allegations made by UB students that their scholarships have been taken away by government. Minister Faber responded today by saying that is not the case but in an effort to be more efficient the Ministry has required the tertiary unit to ask the students to re-register and provide reasons why their scholarships should not be discontinued especially in cases where students have extended their scholarships from two to five years. Minister Faber said of the 1,220 students that just over two hundred have decided to go through the re registration process
He says the Ministry of Education remains committed to helping more students and those scholarships he has cancelled are for those students who are receiving fifty to sixty thousand dollar scholarships. Minister Faber says they made the decision to cut those scholarships to ten to fifteen thousand dollars to ensure that more people will be able to access the doctoral programmes. Source: 7 News Belize
ACES American Crocodile Education Sanctuary Interview
By Interviewer at 10/18/09 08:12
, real-estate:Built 2009 Concrete Gringoized Home For Sale in PG Belize: Charming and Cozy Home for Sale Name of your website?News Digest BlogACES American Crocodile Education Sanctuary
Your name?
Biologist Cherie Chenot-Rose
Your Location (city, etc)
Punta Gorda
Please give us a short summary of your website?
ACES is located less than a mile up the Rio Grand River on a private canal in the Toledo District of Southern Belize. ACES' thirty-six acres is preserved as an essential, educational wildlife refuge for the long-term monitoring and protection of Belize's American Crocodiles. The sanctuary is managed by Cherie Chenot-Rose, Executive Director and Marine Biologist. In addition to crocodiles, the property includes other endangered species: Black Howler Monkeys, Keel-billed Toucans, Mountain Tapirs, Kinkajou and Jaguars.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
The wetland habitats of Belize are on the the last refuges for two species of the genus Crocodylus: the freshwater Morelet's Crocodile and the saltwater tolerant, American Crocodile. American Crocodiles are facing a high rate of extinction in the wild. Poachers often attack these animals to get the crocodile tail which will be sold on the black market as food. A Scientific Collection/Research Permit from the Belize Forest Department of the ministry of Natural Resources has been granted to ACES so that crocodile tagging and sighting surveys can begin on the Rio Grande River and Belize's Bay of Honduras coastal waters. The collected data will provide crucial information to produce an essential assessment of hatchling and habitat viability, along with a population distribution of American Crocodiles in this region.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
In 2004 and it was for the same purpose at www.freewebs.com/ppinpg/
How did you decide on a name for your website?
It is the name of the non-profit orgaization
What makes your website different from other, similar offerings?
All photographs were taken by ourselves at the property and is wrriten by myself
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
To save American Crocoidles from extinction.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
We are struggling for sustaiability, hence now open to the public for private tours and lodging.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
Save more crocodiles and provided more natural conatinment area and habitat for crocs that are problematic and need a place to live out their lives rather than be killed.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
I would hope so.
What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
Advertisment to get people to the site and learn of our efforts.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Getting our word out to the populace.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
can only afford freewebs and has been easy to use.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
I cannot get it to come up on searcg engines
How long have you run the site already, and how long will you continue to keep it up if you don't enjoy big gains in traffic, income or popularity?
4 years and forever
Replace this with a question of your own
Can you help ACES with traffic to the site as a donation to our cause?
What is your website address?
ACES American Crocodile Education Sanctuary
Tags: • crocodiles • crocodile sanctuary • rio grande river • web interview • - Permalink
