Escuela Mexico is in san roman village in the Corozal District and the high school seems to be a hotbed of dissent. The last time we were there in 2004 principal Elbert Worrell was placed on interdiction. Well today another principal was under fire. She is Juanita Lucas and for months she’s been having a hard time getting support from her staff. And today 23 teachers did not show up – they called in sick. Only 7 were left, and by midday the students themselves gave up and walked out. The rest of the teachers left shortly after that – and by 1:30 – the school was deserted. Classes are usually finished at 3:00 p.m.
It’s a crisis, as no one is quite sure what will happen tomorrow. Minister of Education Patrick Faber told us he has been aware of it since he took office and met with the principal today. He says he has asked the Chief Education Officer to launch an investigation starting tomorrow. He has asked the Director of School Services to contact the union and staff and ask teachers to go back into the classroom until the Ministry has had a chance to investigate. That was late this evening, so we’ll have to see what happens tomorrow.
