After more than three decades, Pine Street Preschool in Belize City is no more. According to the Education Minister, It was closed down because the teachers did not have a valid teachers license. It's that simple. In an interview with him he discussed the issue and also presented a plan to reopen the preschool at a different location.Â
Hon. Patrick Faber - Minister of Education
"Pine street preschool is very dear to me, it is one of few preschools we have in Belize City, have in the Collet constituency I mean and it is unfortunate that what Is taking place is happening. It did not have to happen like that. The situation is very simple, one that all, certainly you in the media are familiar with, there was a move by the Ministry of Education to ensure that teachers get their license, two teachers at that institution were given enough opportunity, they were given 5 year provisional license, you will remember for early childhood that in fact the government was very lenient once that provisional period was up. And so for those two teachers they got the 8 years. I can show you information where they messaged me to say minister can you do a political favour, in fact one of them even votes in my constituency and tells me about hands washing hands. I am for the children and I want the best quality of education. It is unfortunate that they have twisted this to become some kind of ill-will on the part of the ministry of education but really it is not. We simply said if you don't have a valid license to teach you can't teach."
"The Ministry of Education in fact had a meeting with the parents yesterday where they met with the parents and the parents were all very cooperative we have now dealt with the matter by seeking a space right up the street, around the lane at Zoe Ministries where pastor king and his congregation have agreed that there was once a preschool there so a facility is there, it will take a bit of touching up but we will use that space for now. The proprietorship of the existing building where the school is now is what is at question, the two teachers, former teachers have said they are the owners, our investigation does not reveal that necessarily, in fact this is property that I am told and my own research has shown as the area rep. belongs to the council of churches that is in fact where the constituency back in Faith's time got permission to build the day care center so for it to be claimed as personal property is rather unfortunate in my opinion."
When the preschool is reopened at the new location, the parents wont need to pay any additional fees and business will resume as usual with new teachers.Â
