Education

People in Maya land are taking the advantage of Belize's education system, first in the primary schools for about eight years, starting about the age of five or older depending on test scores of the Belize National Selection Examination (BNSE). The selection takes place according to the percentile a student earns, and the percentile rate changes annually based on the agreements made in board meetings and standardization of the level of education needed to compete with other institutions in Belize.

In secondary education a student will do an overall subject, and math, language, science, agriculture, industrial arts, social studies, dairy science, house economic, scripture and physical education.

In the second, third and fourth form at high school a student can choose the department and the field he or she will pursue for the three years course. This will allow the student to pursue further studies if successful in the three years course.

Upon graduation, the student can enter a tertiary level institution where one can major in any field. This will help the student to earn an associate degree in the field. This is not the final journey in the education; further studies can be done when finance is not a problem. The length of the course offered at the tertiary level is two school years.

Without education we Maya people will not be able to challenge other people who are educated. We must be able to educate ourselves. Currently, the only high school in Toledo is in Punta Gorda. It has few Indian teachers and it is hard for our children to maintain their culture. Youth from many villages must travel far to attend school, and their parents must pay to board them there during the week. Few people can afford this. Without parents there, it is more likely that our children get involved with drugs and alcohol.

More Mayas go to high school but very few have an associate degree. Because very little economic activities occur among the Maya, they will continue to lag behind in providing good education for their children. The Mayas have been demanding that a high school be established in the vicinity of the villages but this is still a dream. For the time being, they have to travel to the biggest town in Toledo District, Punta Gorda far from home, to get a secondary education.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1. Establishment of a high school that is built in the central Maya communities, staffed with Indian teachers and administrators, with at least partial funding from Government.
2. In school and at home our youth should be encouraged to keep to the same ancient Maya traditional culture, and remain proud of their Maya style of dress and language. Children who have an education should share their knowledge with their village community.
3. Both parents and children should be encouraged to get an education.
4. Programs discouraging Maya youth from drinking, smoking and using drugs should be developed.