Education Ministry in Talks to Allow Temporary Structures for Ocean Academy

Education Minister Francis Fonseca says discussions are underway to provide Ocean Academy in Caye Caulker with access to Ministry of Education land so the school can set up temporary structures to meet its immediate needs.

With the start of the new year, Ocean Academy returned to online classes and borrowed spaces above restaurants, bars, and the village council office. The school was forced to close its main campus after health inspectors cited mould, flooding, and mosquito infestations that made the site unfit for classes.

The school says it has raised close to $90,000 to build temporary structures on land designated for a new school, but it is still awaiting approval to proceed.

At the same time, Area Representative Andre Perez says construction of the new school could begin as early as May. Principal Noemi Zaiden however, says the lack of proper classrooms must be addressed immediately, even if it means placing temporary structures on the site in the interim.

On Wednesday, Fonseca said, “We have discussions now taking place that I think we will provide Ocean Academy with access to the Ministry of Education land that we will build on so that they can set up temporary structures there to meet the immediate needs.”

However, the Minister stopped short of confirming whether formal approval has been granted.

Fonseca went on to say, “ I will make the point that Ocean Academy is a private school. This is not a government school.  People should understand that. So the government has no obligation to do anything for them.”

Currently, Ocean Academy operates as a grant-aided school, making it a hybrid institution with private ownership and some government funding. The school has also openly welcomed the possibility of becoming fully public.

For now, Ocean Academy is relying on the Minister’s assurance that “we want to make sure we are meeting the needs of the Caye Caulker community.”