There was trouble again today at Escuela Secundaria Tecnica Mexico in San Roman Village. 27 of the 30 teachers reported sick – and school could not continue so students had to be sent home. Again, the problem is the standing dispute between the Principal Juanita Lucas and her staff.
The Ministry of Education had to get involved at the start of March and begged the patience of parents, teachers and students while they conducted the investigation. Well, that investigation has been concluded; we’ve seen it and it reflects poorly on the principal’s management style and practices. But the board, which runs the school, has decided not to act against Principal Lucas. And in the middle of all that turf, are the suffering students – many of them who are facing CXCs at the end of this school year.
When our affiliates at Channel 10 from Orange Walk visited today, here’s what they found.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
This was Escuela Mexico this morning – shut down. Emilia Cob who has a son in the school says the students were all sent home.
Emilia Cob, Has Child in Escuela Mexico
“And at about nine o’clock he reached home and told me today is holiday, they gave us holiday. I don’t know what holiday is today. All Fool’s Day maybe.”
But these parents are no fools, they went to the school to see what was the matter.
Fortunato Noble, Channel 10
You went inside just now to get information as to why your child is not school. What did they tell you?
Emilia Cob,
“That the teachers are sick, they are calling sick.”
Fortunato Noble,
How many teachers are sick?
Emilia Cob,
“27.”
Fortunato Noble,
All of them are sick?
Emilia Cob,
“The administration tell them that 27 teachers are sick.”
Fortunato Noble,
What do you think about this?
Emilia Cob,
“It’s not true.”
But what is true for this mother is that with the second day of cancelled school and missing teachers in a month, her son is missing out on his education.
Fortunato Noble,
How is this affecting your child?
Emilia Cob,
“He will not pass this semester because he is not getting classes. I am worried about my child that is coming to school because he is losing classes and that is my worry. My message to the Minister of Education is to stop this thing because we have words and we want to make our voice be heard.”
Education Minister Patrick Faber today confirmed that he is listening to those complaints, and thought that the findings of the investigation were significant enough to give the Board of Directors material to move against the principal. But now that the board has chosen not to, he has instructed the Chief Education Officer to call a meeting of the Regional Council which will meet tomorrow; that council will then take action and they could move to suspend the principal and appoint a new board.
