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Here's Faber's response to that perspective during his press conference yesterday:

Hon. Patrick Faber - Minister of Education
"They criticized significantly the Ministry's school finance reform. Again, they were very misleading. What they had people believe - at least in their literature - I did not hear the presentation myself. But, from what I read in the literature that they shared, is that school finance reform basically pays per student, and it does not give any support for remedial activities. So, there is no support for a student - according to them - to repeat, and for a student to go to a prep class. Remember, sometime back, they used to have a class that you do to prepare you before you go on to high school. Well, they're correct in that the Ministry has a different way of doing it. But, it's not these students are left to the mercy of the world. What school finance reform does is it gives basic monies for each child that you enroll, and that is, in our view, a good thing. If a school loses a student, the school loses money. So, it is in the school's best interest to keep those students and to keep them succeeding. But it is not just that the schools are expected to pass these students and to keep them in school, just because. In fact, in that formula is also built-in support for the students, support for a student, if the student comes to school hungry, support for a student, if a student can't afford his books, support for a student if the student needs additional tutoring in math, English, or whatever subject area the student is lacking in."

"But they will not tell you that. They would have you believe because, on the surface, it seems it's only the Government is going to pay for this student to be in first, second, third, and fourth only, that nothing is done to help to support them. The Government's position is yes, we don't want a child to repeat. We don't a child to repeat, so do everything that is in your power Mr. Principal, and staff of the school, so that you are then able to promote. Give them all the support, and if this child comes from a poor socio-economic household, if the child comes from a position of weakness, academically, there is support in that formula to get that child at the level that he needs to be. It is built in as support, and not an additional year, or anything like that. That's what school finance reform has done."

When Will School Open?

Turning now to the Ministry's plan for the next school year, the press asked the Minister about the resumption of classes. Classes were scheduled to restart on Monday. But that opening date had to be delayed because of the current community spread of COVID-19, that we've been telling you about since last week.

Here are the Minister's remarks:

Hon. Patrick Faber - Minister of Education
"We said until further notice, and the reason we did that was we wanted time to see just far things would develop in terms of the COVID situation. At the point where we're at right now, I am very confident that early date in September is not going to happen, but that is exactly why I don't say these things because you never know what's going to happen. We continue to assess the situation, which is what I always say, and we continue to wait and hear the advice from the health authorities especially. I know for instance right now there are clamors from teachers for us to have them stay at home, but that is not the advice. We will only do these things when the health authorities advise us that things are in the kind of problems. The public servants are going to work every day. Private sector workers are going to work every day."

September Celebrations, Ready?

Turning now to the September Celebration, the government today extended the two week State of Emergency which started on August 6th - and should have ended on the 20th of August - by another two weeks - taking it to September fourth.

That's right into the start of the national celebration month.

Annually, the carnival road march, the Battle of Saint George's Caye Day, and Independence Day are among the most festive times to be in Belize. But, this year, we'll all have to do our partying at home and online.

Yesterday, Patrick Faber, the Minister of Culture, who is also the Chair of the National Celebrations Commission, discussed what these September Celebrations will look:

Hon. Patrick Faber - Co-Chair, National September Celebrations
"I've spent the better part of the morning trying to make decisions as it relates to these celebrations. What we're saying this year is that we cannot kill the Celebrations all together. And so, we are going to celebrate, yes, but we are going to celebrate in a very responsible way. And that means not kind of mass gatherings. The carnival, Jouvert, and the Road March and all of that are not going to happen this year. And I don't think that comes as a surprise to anybody. The kind of gatherings - in fact, it is now going to be illegal for any gathering about 25. It may well get down to some lower numbers, given the state of what is happening right now. We are going to limit the activities to those that can be done virtually, and those that absolutely have to happen, as I would say, the 10th Day Ceremony, and the 21st ceremony in the daytime, where we must, as a symbol of devotion to our country, make a mark of the anniversary of the Battle of Saint George's Caye, and of our country's independence."

"It's going to be a very subdued celebration, but a celebration nonetheless. Where we can turn things up in our homes, by the virtual parties, and celebrations, we are hoping that we can use this opportunity to support our artists, who have, of course, been out of work for some time. Maybe, this is an opportunity that we get to employ them and to help them to help us to celebrate, but in the safety of our homes is where that partying will happen."