Switching gears, in November we showed you the state of the Belize Rural Primary, the school that perhaps sustained the most damage during the hurricane. Its entire roof was ripped off, soaking the rooms and ruining the decorations and supplies in the classes.
The kids were moved to the community center, which came with its own set of problems, since they needed to get rid of the bats and their droppings from the ceiling. But even now, the teachers are having a hard time teaching with everyone cramped into one building. And according to the BNTU president, the school is still in disrepair.
Elena Smith, President, BNTU
"I know that for example, Belize Rural primary, they are still not back at the school. The last I saw when I passed there was that the roof was taken off. Remember it was rolled up initially and it was taken off and so it seems there has been a move. However, there are still no fixing of that building yet, so they are still over in the center. Based on what we saw when we went there initially, did not seem to be conducive for learning. So, I would have to take another visit and see what is going on, but our initial visit the space wasn't good. The building itself wasn't a good one to have children in."
Reporter
"What was the indication, if there was any at all from government that they would contribute for that to be fixed?"
Elena Smith, President, BNTU
"The rural primary school would have to come from them. They are the managers of that school. It's not a church managed school, so it would have to come from the government. They were seeking donors/sponsorship people to work with them to do the repairs. I guess they have not gotten that as yet, but we have to do some follow up in terms of how the area has been affecting those teachers, because it's a very small space."
