In the sphere of public opinion, a shortage of reliable information invariably breeds general apprehension, if not widespread panic. And that's pretty much what's been happening with the free textbook programme for primary schools. The school year ended without parents or school administrators having any clear or coherent idea of what will be involved in the new programme. Add to that the general mistrust that shadows many Government programmes and you've got a legitimate case of "something sound funny 'bout that..." Well today, The Ministry of Education hoped to end all that adverse speculation with a press conference detailing the programme. Here's how it will work.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
These are the textbooks that Belize's 64,405 thousand primary school children will be using next year in five core subjects: Those subjects are math, language, science social studies and Spanish. Half a million books costing $6.5 million will be imported in eight 40 foot containers - with the first shipment scheduled to arrive next week. They were presented to a full house at a press conference at the House of Culture this morning.
Maud Hyde, Chief Education Officer
"We are confident that we're putting into the hands of our children good high quality material."
It's a huge policy decision and undertaking to standardize textbooks and it has attracted a fair amount of criticism. But the Ministry is undaunted; Chief Education Officer Maud Hyde says this is the right thing to do at the right time for the right reasons:
Maud Hyde,
"Through this initiative we anticipate that we will lower the rate of dropout because many children are out there on the street because they don't have materials to go to school. So this will lessen the burden for parents. Many parents have three, four, five children in primary school and are unable, if they are able to get one set of books, it is probably for the one in the highest class or the class nearest to PSE. So this initiative will lessen the burden for many many parents and I know despite all the, we have heard some negative remarks and so on, I am sure that many many parents are celebrating this initiative."
Education Minister Francis Fonseca says they were guided by a few principles in deigning the policy.
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
"Textbooks must be of high quality and relevance to the national comprehensive curriculum. Primary school education must be made more affordable to our families and schools. Equity, all our primary school students, wherever they live and go to school, should have equal access to quality relevant textbooks."
And while those principles were guided by common good, critics say there wasn't enough consultation.
Hon. Francis Fonseca,
"While an argument can perhaps always be made for wider and deeper consultation, I would remind those now making that argument that while it is this government guided by this Ministry of Education team that is taking the bold decision to implement the textbook program, there has been an ongoing discussion on this critical issue for more than twenty years."
Maud Hyde,
"It was not just a wake up one day and pick some nice looking books and put them out there; certainly not. A lot of hours, a lot of time, a lot of detail work has been put into reviewing the materials."
Hon. Francis Fonseca,
"I am satisfied therefore that the consultations have been meaningful and adequate and then evaluation process credible and reliable. We have talked enough. It is now time for us to act in the best interest of the children of Belize."
But coming just months before an election is it not also in the best interest of the governing PUP and might this whole effort not be driven by the election cycle rather than what's best for students?
Hon. Francis Fonseca,
"If people wan to describe this as an election gimmick, I am prepared to accept that and I'll keep smiling, I'll keep moving forward because I believe that this is in the best interest of the children of Belize. So I don't waste any time at all worrying about that criticism."
But what the Ministry does worry about is that some schools are playing hardball with the Ministry's directives and threatening not to use the books.
Hon. Francis Fonseca,
"There are a few who have suggested an intention not to have their schools or students participate in the textbook program. This is unwise, unreasonable, and unacceptable. I remain everyone that this is not an optional program. The Ministry will exercise every authority to ensure full compliance with the program's objectives."
And the Ministry is also strict about book lists. Many have appeared requiring that parents get a parallel list of supplementary textbooks.
Hon. Francis Fonseca,
"No student should be required by a school or a teacher to buy any other textbook, should be required to buy any other textbook in those core subject areas."
And to make sure school managements get the point, Hyde has sent out a circular making serious threats for those not complying with the programme directives.
Maud Hyde,
"Schools that act outside the policy will be subject to removal from grant aided status. Teachers that place undue financial burden on parents to purchase additional textbooks in the subject areas stipulated and use textbooks in the classroom that are not aligned with the national primary curriculum and approved by the Ministry of Education shall be subject to having their licenses revoked."
But schools aren't the only ones that will have to comply. Parents will be required to sign a contract committing to have their children take care of the books - because textbooks will be passed on to the next year. Each book will have one of these inside; your child's name will be written here along with the condition they received the book in.
It's quite a change in how things are done, and these experts say that the first year will see bumps along the way - not the least of which are likely to be experienced when the Ministry has to process and distribute half a million books across the country.
Starting at the middle of this month, the Ministry will hold training workshops for master teachers who will then lead mass workshops in August. And we should note that the Spanish books are part of an objective to have standard six finishers functionally competent in the Spanish language.
