Education Minister Denies Claims of Unpaid Teachers

The Minister of Education is refuting claims that several teachers haven’t been paid. Last Friday, Belize National Teachers Union President Nadia Caliz took to Facebook demanding answers; why have some teachers reportedly gone four months without pay, and why are deductions showing up in their salaries?

 

Oscar Requena, Minister of Education

“Yes that matter came to my attention last Friday. While the concerns are there, I believe there is some misinformation via social media. Essentially, what was being presented is that teachers were not paid. That is not the case. The information I have is that sometime last year in December there was a delay in paying some teachers’ allowances, such as hardship, responsibility allowance and even adjustment in salaries. So, the ministry made a decision, I consolidation with teachers that there is going to be an advance of salaries with the understanding that that was going to be paid back via salary deduction. That is what took place last week. The gap is that there was not timely communication between the center and the teachers that the deduction was being.”