BNTU Protest Over Unpaid Monies: Minister of Education Acknowledges Teachers’ Concerns

Last Friday, the Belize National Teacher’s Union (BNTU) took to the streets to express their discontent due to monies owed to them. In an interview yesterday, the then Minister of Education, Francis Fonseca, addressed and acknowledged the teachers’ right to protest and express their grievances. He emphasized the importance of dialogue and collaboration between the ministry and the union to address the challenges facing Belize’s education system. The Minister also commended the teachers for their courage to speak out. 

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education: “We have a great relationship with the national teachers union. It says that democracy is alive, that our teachers as I have said consistently have every right to go out there they have a mandate and they have every right to advocate for their membership for better terms and conditions and service for their membership and we are committed to working with them on those issues. Always have been respectfully and we continue to do that. So I was very happy and proud to see the teachers out there expressing, sharing their voices and I stand with them to say we will address these issues on their behalf.”

As the dust settles from the demonstration, all eyes are on the Ministry of Education to see how it will respond to the union’s demands.