Last week Wednesday, Belmopan Comprehensive High made headlines when its students sat out of exams to take a stand with teachers. They were objecting to 17 fourth form students who graduated despite not meeting the school's minimum graduation requirements.
Compre is a government school and today, Minister of Education Patrick Faber, gave us his thoughts on the chaotic situation...
Hon. Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
"Our position is that, as far as I understand it, the school merely said that they will allow the students to participate in the ceremony. They will not be given the diploma and that, to me, is not an abnormal practice. What says that you are a graduate of high school is that piece of paper officially sealed and signed by the officials of the school and it is not abnormal for a school to say, I know because I have been a high school administrator myself and I have been involved in this business for many, many years, as you know. It is not abnormal for the school to say, "You know what, there are some who have not made the mark and you would have to do extra work, whether it be an additional exam, a retake of an exam or summer school in order for you to qualify." Now where I would be terribly concerned is if they were giving out the diplomas signed, sealed and delivered before the students actually made the cut, made the mark. And as far as I am understanding, that is not the case and so while it is not a direct thing for the Ministry of Education, I keep telling people that while it is the ministry is proprietor to certain schools, it does not mean that we control directly everything that happens in that school. And as it relates to that matter with Belmopan Comprehensive, I am understanding that it is a decision that the board which is the managing authority, made. So we stand by them."
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