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Tomorrow all roads lead to Independence Hill in Belmopan where the House of Representatives will meet and where the Belize National Teacher’s Union is planning a massive protest. They will protest the Education Training and Services Bill which will be passed after its second and third readings. But as we’ve been reporting, the BNTU is unhappy with the provision for removal of corporal punishment. Education Minister Patrick Faber has told the union that he will delay implementation of the corporal punishment ban for six months. But that’s not good enough to the teachers who set forth a call to action this afternoon. Keith Swift has more.

Jaime Panti, BNTU President
“Teachers, members of BNTU will not report to school. They are heading to Belmopan.”

And BNTU President Jaime Panti says they are heading to Belmopan to protest against the changes to the Education Act, principally the clause on corporal punishment.

Jaime Panti,
“We have one issue, one issue a serious issue that we have and that is the issue of corporal punishment. That is the issue. I don’t think we have missed, I think Ministry has a different view than we have but we are telling them that is teachers who are in the classroom and we have to stop this foolishness of having our politicians and the technocrats make decisions and you make a decision but in reality it doesn’t make sense or it doesn’t happen.”

George Frazer, BNTU Secretary
“I am repeating and this is a fact, the Minister and the Ministry had agreed that they would set up a committee from October last year. I have in my hand, and I have copies for you to see. Now because this bill is going to the House, they just sent out these things, and I will give you copies so you could see, because it is a lot of games and politics the play. These are letters which the Ministry sent out dated the 12th of February. They sent this out the twelfth and you want name the same 12th.

I will give you copies so you can look at it. The 12th of February to give name, the different group to go and meet, and give name the same day so that when they go to the House tomorrow they can say they set up a committee. Some of you asked the question, this is just a farce and this is exactly what we are saying; stop the play games and come straight with the people.”

Jaime Panti,
“In theory we agree that it needs to be removed and this is where we are at odds because until you find the mechanism then we can move forward. This is our position.”

And that is why the union says it needs more time -though he couldn’t say how much.

Jaime Panti,
“When we meet as stakeholders, depending on how fast we come and what we will have implement that will determine, it is unrealistic, it would not be practical for me to put a timeline as such. I can’t speculate.

We are willing to participate, have all the stakeholders join and decide on a proper time frame for the removal of corporal punishment and to bring the alternative ways of discipline into the classroom. It is not as easy as that.”

Panti says that while they can’t close down schools –teachers won’t report to work.

Jaime Panti,
“Membership has voted to go to Belmopan on Friday February 19th 2010 to rally and express our call for our elected representatives to listen to the voice of reason and give the necessary time, a week or two of proper study and consideration of our recommendations and concerns.

We are in no position to close any schools, we don’t own schools in this country. Therefore we are telling the public that teachers will not be in school tomorrow.”

So if you are a parent, the big question is if there will be classes tomorrow. The answer quite frankly is that no one knows for sure; and the teachers say one thing while the ministry says another. In a memorandum to schools, Chief Education Officer Christopher Aird says he accepts the teachers’ right to rally but expressed his dismay at the short notice. He however cautioned school managers that, “all effort should be made to ensure that schools remain open tomorrow. He added that school managers need to keep a record of teachers who won’t show up and the reason for their absence.

We do know that students at several large schools received a note from the principal – informing parents that the teachers will be protesting in Belmopan and so they need to make necessary arrangements. The teacher’s union says that 80% of teachers are members of the union.