OPENING STATEMENT DELIVERED by HON. FRANCIS FONSECA, MINISTER of EDUCATION at PRESS CONFERENCE to DISCUSS GOVERNMENT of BELIZE NATIONAL TEXTBOOK PROGRAM

Venue: House of Culture, Belize City

Date: July 9, 2007

Good morning and thank you for being here.

The Ministry of Education has convened this Press Conference to present to the Belizean people the Government of Belize Primary School Textbook Program which takes effect September 2007.

The textbook program will provide free textbooks in five core subject areas to all primary school children attending Government and denominational primary schools.

The five (5) core subject areas are: Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Spanish.

Our Education Professionals here today will, over the next few minutes , outline for you, in some detail, the background to and rationale for the program, the evaluation process used to identify the textbooks selected, the objectives and benefits of the program and the management system put in place to ensure effective and efficient implementation of the program.

In the structuring of this program, the Ministry of Education has been guided by certain fundamental principles and criteria.

1. The textbooks must be of high quality and relevant to the National Comprehensive Curriculum.
2. Primary School Education must be made more affordable to our families and schools.
3. Equity- All our primary school students, wherever they live and go to school, should have equal access to quality, relevant textbooks.
4. An essential component of the program must provide for increased support to our teachers through relevant teacher guides and training.

The initial cost of the program will be some BZ $6.5M, inclusive of procurement, freight changes, transportation, processing, storage and training. This will be significantly reduced in the years following as a result of the return policy instituted as a part of the programs management.

I am aware of good faith concerns expressed regarding the adequacy of the consultations leading to the establishment of this program, and the evaluation process used to select the textbooks now included in the program.

While an argument can perhaps always be made for wider and deeper consultation, I would remind those now making that argument that while it is this Government, guided by this Ministry of Education team, that has taken the bold decision to implement this textbook program, there has been an ongoing discussion on this critical issue for more than 20 years. Successive governments and Ministry teams have enlightened that discussion through the efforts of textbooks committees and curriculum review teams.

Since January of this year, a team of specialists, including qualified curriculum experts, trained teachers, and specialists in core subject areas has been commissioned to review and to evaluate the textbooks currently in use in our primary schools. It is this review and evaluation that has resulted in the selection of the textbooks deemed to be of the highest quality and relevance to our national curriculum.

I am satisfied, therefore, that the consultations have been meaningful and adequate, and the evaluation process credible and reliable. We have talked enough; it is now time for us to act in the best interest of the children of Belize .

I would like to record my gratitude for the tremendous support the program has gotten from many General Managers, church leaders, principals, teachers, parents, and students who understand and appreciate the clear goals and objectives of the program.

It has been reported to me that there are a few principals and teachers who have suggested an intention not to have their schools or students participate in the textbook program. This is unwise, unreasonable and unacceptable. I remind everyone that this is NOT an optional program.

Those who seek to undermine the program, particularly where they are principals or teachers, do a disservice to our children and nation. The Ministry of Education will not allow this to happen and as the Chief Education Officer has made clear in a Circular to all concerned, the Ministry will exercise every authority to ensure full compliance with the program's objectives.

In its first year of implementation, the program will undoubtedly be met with challenges seen and unforeseen, but I wish to assure the Belizean people that the Ministry of Education is fully prepared to manage this program effectively and efficiently.

This is certainly an investment that we are making as a nation that we can all be proud of.

I urge all our stakeholders in education but, particularly, our General Managers, principals, teachers and parents to give their full support to this important initiative, not for this Government or this Minister, but for our children.

Let us keep an open mind. Where there are weaknesses, let us work together to correct them. Let us set aside our differences, political or otherwise, and embrace this opportunity to do what is right for our education system, our Belizean families and our country.