Doing More: How One Dangriga School Is Setting the Standard

What does it mean to do more for your students? The Ministry of Education’s MoRE Campaign has been asking schools that question since 2023, challenging them to go beyond the classroom across five pillars: digital learning, health, inclusion, involvement, and creativity. Schools submit their efforts, earn points, and get recognized for going the extra mile. One school in Stann Creek District has answered that call louder than most. Epworth Methodist Primary School in Dangriga has topped the entire country in MoRE Campaign points and tonight we find out how.

 

Sabreena Daly, Reporting

There’s life, movement and purpose beyond the walls of the classrooms at Epworth Methodist Primary School in Stann Creek District.

 

Evonay Lopez, Student, Epworth Methodist Primary School

“ Hi, Channel five. My name is Evonay Lopez. I am nine years old. I’ve been in the GAMAE group since 2025, and I have learned a lot of songs and a lot of dances.”

 

Each child here is building something, a skill, a voice, a sense of place. One young man lends us his voice as our guide. English is his second language, and he learns it right here at Epworth. Today, he has every intention of using it.

 

Jexiver Romero, School Ambassador, Epworth Methodist Primary School

“Good Morning, My name is Jexiver Romero and I’m the school ambassador.”

 

Sabreena Daly

“Nice to meet you, I’m Sabreena.”

 

Our first stop, the GAMAE club, where students are keeping their cultural heritage alive through Arts, Medicine, Agriculture and Education.…

 

Nila Mckoy, Student, Epworth Methodist Primary School

“ I love being in this group because I love talking Garifuna. I love singing and dancing, and I love the history of Garifuna.”

 

From simple yarn to finished pieces, this crochet club is all about pride in the process.

 

Student

“I made this beautiful scarf.”

 

Sabreena Daly

“Did that take you long to make?”

 

Student

“It took me three days and one hour.”

 

And then there’s the braiding club, where hair education and grooming are very much a family affair. Parents aren’t just dropping their children off here. They’re pulling up a chair.

 

Phrislee Palacio, Parent

“You’ll notice that all of our hair is 4C hair. But these are just beautiful styles that they’re beginning to learn and this is an improvement because by the time they’re in their future, they already have talent and businesses that they can start.”

 

Behind every club, every parent volunteer, every seedling in the garden is a principal who has been quietly building this vision for nearly a decade.

 

Felecia Zuniga Palacio, Principal, Epworth Methodist Primary School

“Why is it important that we do more? It takes more than just teachers and students and the principal to run a school. It takes the community and we want to share with our stakeholders who have that faith in us that we are doing more to ensure that our children have quality and sound education here at Epworth Methodist school.”

 

Our next stop was one Jexiver was particularly proud of: The chess club.

Jexiver Romero

“This club here helps you to think. In the game, you need to think.”

 

The recycling club at Epworth is also redefining what waste looks like. With Charles Diaz leading the way, students are turning discarded plastic water pouches into bags, carriers and even a hammock.

 

Renelyn Tulcey, Parent/Volunteer

“And this shows the strength of plastic. Our world could definitely be a better place if we learn how to use recycled materials—or reuse them.”

 

Sabreena Daly

“Of course, what you put inside depends on what you desire. Fruits, vegetables, but this school also has the vegetables and the fruits on the ground, and so we’re going to see that next.”

 

What Epworth is doing doesn’t just impress visitors. It has caught the attention of the Ministry of Education. Their MoRE Campaign recognizes schools that go beyond academic excellence and Stann Creek’s District Education Manager David Cano says Epworth has gone further than most.

 

David Cano, Stann Creek District Education Manager, MOECST

“ Epworth is one of the schools in this district that is leading the adoption of the MoRe Program. I believe they have more submissions than others in the district and perhaps leading the country as well in primary schools.”

 

Epworth became the first school in Dangriga to receive a MoRE banner, a recognition that comes with a visit from the Minister himself. Last year they topped the entire country with 285 points. For Cano, what’s happening here is bigger than one school.

 

David Cano

“We want to create a citizen of Belize that is involved, that is knowledgeable, that is creative, who can problem solve and works well.”

 

Epworth Methodist Primary School isn’t waiting for the world to invest in its children. The community already did. And in doing so, they’ve set a standard for every school in Belize to aspire to. From Stann Creek District, looking on The Bright Side, I’m Sabreena Daly.

 

If you would like your school to be part of the MoRE Campaign, primary and secondary schools across Belize can make their submissions year round at moecst.gov.bz/more

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

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