The Belize National Teachers Union held its 39th Annual Convention on April 15 and 16 in Punta Gorda Town under the theme, “Quality Teaching for Quality Education.”
Some 250 teachers from across the country participated in the convention.
The National President, Mr. Jaime Panti, as is tradition, delivered the presidential remarks. He addressed various issues surrounding education and challenged teachers to rise to the occasion in tandem with the convention’s theme – becoming quality teachers in order to deliver quality education.
Of significant interest was the presence of Mr. Roustan Job, president of the Caribbean Union of Teachers and Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association. As the keynote speaker at the 39th Annual Convention, his resume´ as a trade unionist and educator and his current portfolio enabled him to bring cosmopolitan flair to the issues he raised in speaking to the convention.
Firstly, he discussed the theme. He offered an examination of the traits that characterize quality teachers in an effort to get all in attendance to self-reflect and determine whether the kind of work they are doing in the classroom, and in the education system, could be labeled as quality teaching.
His discourse ranged from discussing the traditional chalk-and-talk teaching method, to looking at a wide range of innovative creative teaching strategies that could only result in the delivery of the quality education this year’s theme covers.
He also challenged the union to remain steadfastly engaged with the Ministry of Education.
Secondly, President Job said that he could not speak at this convention without addressing unionism. At that point, he spoke of the daunting challenge union leaders have and identified proven and tested measures to keep membership engaged in the affairs of the union.
He asked the poignant question: “What kind of union member are you?” targeting each person in attendance. He profiled various kinds of membership, from those who “just belong” to those who do all in their power to move their union forward.
He concluded his presentation by quoting William Arthur Ward: “The mediocre teacher tells, the good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates, the great teacher inspires”, hoping that these words would resonate with his audience.
Panelists in the afternoon session included longtime educator and administrator Mrs. Brenda Armstrong and the Dean of Faculty of Education of the University of Belize. The panelists’ analysis of the convention’s theme and injection of their perspective of what it meant included Armstrong’s sharing ideas of what a quality teacher is and what it would take to bring quality education to the classroom.
Day one concluded with the union conducting its business session, which included presentation, review and acceptance of reports from the General Secretary, Executive Secretary, Treasurer and President.
Ministry of Education personnel were featured on day two. Mrs. Carol Babb, Deputy Chief Education Officer, shared information about the first joint BNTU-Ministry of Education teachers’ day program.
Sister Caritas Lawrence then made a presentation on the Teaching Services Commission.
After these sessions, resolutions were presented to the floor and voted on. Also, because 2009 is an election year for BNTU, the session also included endorsements for a second term for Jaime Panti as President, Endevora Jorgenson as General Secretary and Victor Williams as Treasurer.
Special events related to the convention included a drumming night on Tuesday and the selection of Ms. BNTU on Wednesday.
For the first time, the selection—which organizers hope will become an annual event— was done on the first night of the annual convention. The candidate from the Belmopan Branch, Ms. Niurka Nunez, was crowned as Ms. BNTU 2009-2010.