In 1982 St. Hilda and St. Michael Colleges merged and became the Anglican
Cathedral College. 25 years later ACC has grown to a record high enrollment
of 447 students with 29 teachers. Indeed over 25 years the school has grown
and so its fitting that the school is celebrating its silver anniversary with
a new school building. It was inaugurated this morning and 7NEWS was there.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This morning General Manager of Anglican Schools Carol Babb, Albert Area Representative
Mark Espat, and Anglican Cathedral College principal Ismael Requena symbolically
cut the ribbon at the entrance of a new building on ACC's campus. The two-storey
cement structure was built primarily with funding from the Social Investment
Fund. SIF's Executive Director Oscar Alonzo explains.
Oscar Alonzo, Executive Director - SIF
"This building that we are celebrating today costs us $477,000 and it
was financed by the government of
Belize through the Commonwealth Debt Initiative program. This program enables
the government of Belize to obtain funding through proceeds that it would have
used to repay back the debts that the country owes to the government of the
United Kingdom in order to invest in projects that will impact the poverty situation
in Belize."
The new building will consists of two classrooms, two science labs, a canteen,
a kitchen and a computer lab. ACC's principal Ismael Requena they were in need
of the new accommodations.
Ismael Requena, ACC Principal
"What used to happen in the past is that we had only one science lab.
With these two new science lab, it will definitely enhance learning and increase
the capability of our teachers to deliver quality education to our students."
Today's inauguration was a completion of a promise Area Rep. Mark Espat said
he made to the school which is in his division. Espat says he hopes the structure
will be more than just classrooms. He sees it as an asset to the Albert community
Hon. Mark Espat, Albert Area Rep.
"We had promised that we would design and construct a new school building
here at ACC and so the significance of it is really a significant upgrading
of the conditions under which the students receive their education and of course
we hope that the building will also be used for community events and as a hurricane
shelter."
Area Rep. Mark Espat has agreed to help the school furnish its new science
labs. The school also hopes to reestablish its feeding program which was cut
in December. The Social Investment Fund contributed $454,000 for the project
while the school came up with just under $23,000.
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