The Education Support Service (ESS) Area was established in 1999, to provide strength, stability and adaptation to changing conditions and requirements as Belize adjusts to the changing world. It seeks to support all children, particularly those vulnerable or at risk due to the absence of appropriate resources to deal with current societal changes as well as those within the educational system.

Contents: 1. Mission 2. Vision 3. Description 4. School Community Liaison and Security 5. School Nutrition Programme 6. National Resource Center for Inclusive Education 7. Administration

Mission

Education Support Services (ESS) is committed to improving nationwide access to life-long learning. This service area seeks to ensure the holistic development of all children through participation in relevant educational activities. ESS is responsible for improving the enrolment, attendance, participation and completion rates of students within our school system, by identifying and providing the relevant support.

Vision

All students regardless of difficulties, disadvantages or disabilities have access to the most appropriate educational services so that they can achieve their highest potential.

Description

From October 1st 1999, to May 31st 2003, ESS was made up of five (5) units (Preschool, Communication Skills Programme, School Health and Physical Education Services (SHAPES), Special Education, and School-Community Liaison/Security). Since June 1st, 2003, with the restructuring of the Ministry of Education,three units remained under ESS.  These are: Special Education, School Nutrition Programme, and School-Community Liaison/Security.   In 2005 another re-structuring was done that further reduced ESS to only the Special Education Unit.  In 2006, this Unit was renamed The National Resource Center for Inclusive Education to better reflect its activities as it relates to students with special needs. In 2007, the ESS concept was re-established and the School Health and Nutrition Unit and the School-Community Liaison/Security Unit were again grouped as units that seek to support the most vulnerable students. The present management staff is as follows:

1. School Community Liaison and Security (SCL/S): Manager, Mr. Dale Anthony
2. School Health and Nutrition Programme: Ms. Melissa Belezaire
3. National Resource Center for Inclusive Education: Manager, Ms. Sharon August
4. Programmes to be Implemented:
   • Early Warning Systems (in collaboration with the Ministry of Human Development and Social Transformation)
   • Remedial and Alternative programmes (After-school programmes)

    

School Community Liaison and Security

Phone/Fax: 223 -3041

Background

The School Community/Security Liaison programme forms an integral part of the Ministry of Education. It operates under the revised regulations of the 1991 Education Act. This programme started in September of 1998 in Belize City, as the Truancy initiative to address the high rate of non and irregular school attendance of children (5 – 14) years in Belize. In a study conducted by UNICEF and Belize Urban Primary schools Principals’ Association, in 1995, it was revealed that there was an average of 4% absenteeism per day during the during the period of the study. There were in excess of four hundred children absent from school on a daily basis.

Around June 1999 the security component was added to the School Community Liaison programme. This was instituted as a measured by the Ministry of Education to address the serious problems the country was facing with the abduction and murder of children (particularly girls between the ages of 9 -16) from late 1997 through 1998. Consequently the prime function of this section was to ensure the safety and security of children at the school.

A combination of two components makes up the School Community/Liaison Security Programme.

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Vision

The School Community Liaison/Security programme, within its capacity of available human, physical and financial resources is committed to ensuring that all school-aged children living in Belize attend school on a regular basis thereby enabling them to obtain a relevant education and become productive and exemplary citizens.

Mission Statement

The School Community Liaison/Security programme, seeks to ensure that all school aged children living in Belize attend safe and secure schools regularly so as to provide themselves with the opportunity to learn and participate constructively in the development of Belize as well as their own personal development.

Goals

Ø To ensure that all school-aged children attend school.

Ø To ensure that measures are taken to guarantee that children stay in school.

Ø To ensure that the school environment is a safe place for children.

Ø To provide support service to children, parents, teachers, school or any relevant institution that contributes to children regular attendance at school.

Ø To provide an effective prevention program for school dropouts.

Ø To provide an effective system of managing and delivery of the School Community Liaison programme.

Ø To access appropriate support from Government and Non-Government organization and the Community.

Ø To provide an opportunity for School Community Liaison Officers/Wardens to grow professionally and become more qualified to conduct their duties.

Objective:

to ensure that all school-aged children attend school regularly and in a healthy, safe and secure environment.