And when McDonald isn't riding the bike, he's in the driver's seat of Minister Fonseca's vehicle, and, today, the minister was at a historic ceremony for St John's College. This junior college will be moving from a 2 year to a 4 year institution, providing Bachelor and Master's programs. It's a major move that will raise the bar for the quality of higher education in Belize and will offer students who would normally go abroad a chance to study right here at home. Courtney Menzies attended the ceremony today and has this story.
If you're one of the many Belizeans who received their Associates Degree at St John's College and are wondering where to go next, well, you may be able to go a degree higher at that very same school.
Today the Stochl Hall, or the SJC Extension Building, was blessed and just in time because starting next year, they will be making the monumental move into a four year institution.
Mirtha Peralta, President, SJC
"As I mentioned in my speech that this has been a 40 year struggle. From 1981 we had started or the Jesuits started, father Leo Weber and father Richard Buehler, with the initiative of going four years. But after 40 years, we have finally secure those permissions. And so first of January 2022 to St John's College becomes a four year institution able to grant bachelor's degree programs and master's degree programs. So I want to say to our alumni out there, the students out there, we are ready."
The Minister of Education added that it was a lengthy and thorough process to get the school to this level, but that it is a major win for our education system.
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
"I think what it represents is more opportunities for high quality Jesuit education and beliefs at the highest levels. This is a process that started six to eight months ago, so it was carefully analyzed, carefully reviewed, careful deliberations. But at the end of the day, the Ministry of Education was satisfied. That this would add a very positive component to higher education in Belize. We had many, many and I had many discussions with the Jesuit community, Jesuit superiors, both here in Belize and outside of Belize, who came in to demonstrate their commitment to this project and this effort."
"As I've mentioned in my remarks, very importantly, Belize will be around the table because the way the Jesuit system works. You are a part of a province, Belize will be around the table with institutions like George Stone University, Boston College, Fordham, St Louis University. These are high level elite educational institutions globally recognized and that will provide for them to share. It will be a networking that will allow for them to share their expertize, their resources with St John's College and with Belize."
He noted that this move fits in with their plan for expanding the quality of higher education, but will it leave the University of Belize in the dust? Minister Fonseca answered that by saying the two schools will be made to complement, not compete.
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
"As I said, we don't want this to be competing with our national University of Belize. And of course, there's a lot of work to be done at the national University of Belize. There are lots of weaknesses there. But the emphasis of this institution will be on sustainable development courses, environment, health, sciences, also engineering programs, technology, of course, how could I forget technology."
"We are not just going to be churning out more Business Administration students with degrees and this is not an innovation, but that we were in fact going to be meeting the needs of national development and focusing on priority areas."
And to commemorate this historic occasion, SJC also unveiled its new logo, removing the work "City" from the bottom and just leaving "Belize."
And President Peralta explained that there's still more work to do on the Bachelor and Master's programs that will be provided, and those will be announced at a later date.
On Saturday it will be 5 years since the legendary educator, Father John Stochl passed away at the age of 92. The Jesuit priest spent 65 years in Belize.
