On Wednesday afternoon, two of the project?s leading advocates, University of Belize professor, Dr. Aondofe Joe Iyo, and Ms. Froyla Tzalam, director of the Institute of Creative Arts, met with the press to discuss progress and future plans.

Tzalam said that two weeks ago they had completed an evaluation in 70 schools in both urban and rural Belize to determine whether the program was being taught at the primary school level. All 70 schools were teaching the materials when they checked, but they had a month?s advance notice. Iyo stressed the need for an independent assessment to give them an unbiased picture of how well the program is being implemented in lower, middle and upper schools.

As early as September, the group hopes to introduce the program into high schools, and tertiary schools would be targeted for implementation in 2007.

Yasser Musa, NICH president, said that the impetus for the teaching of African and Mayan studies in school came from the United Black Association for Development (UBAD) in the 1960?s.

Iyo said that if the young people are taught in schools that their ancestors had built great civilizations that preceded Western and Roman civilizations, they would, in turn, be inspired to accomplish great things. This would require that educators dispense with the myth that ?Columbus discovered the Americas,? and focus on the great Mayan and African civilizations that have formed the blueprint for today?s civilizations.

Iyo said that young people have to own up to their great heritage and people should know that the history of Blacks does not begin with slavery in the Americas. There was a long past before that, which has been ignored. He also stressed the need to understand the alliances that cut across ethnic barriers.

?Today many of us don?t identify with who we are because we have only been taught the history of humiliation,? he commented.

Tzalam recounted that when the program was first pitched to educators, some said that they did not see the need for it and refused to teach it. She also highlighted the need for a more integrated approach to teaching in schools, where students are taught to make the connection between different ethnic groups, like the Mayas and the Mestizos, for example.

?It?s a matter of philosophy,? she said, explaining that once educators understand the concept and the importance of the program, the walls of resistance immediately break down.

There is no reliable assessment, however, of whether the program has really taken root in the 282 primary schools across the country. Tzalam said that the program has the potential of reaching 63,282 students at that level.

Come September, the team hopes to add over 40 secondary schools to their program. Manuals for teacher use are now being finalized. The team has the support of BAPSS ? Belize Association of Principals of Secondary Schools.

The program is a government-funded program. Iyo, who was seconded to the project from UB, reported that to date over $150,000 has been invested in the program.

The program is based on the primary school curriculum and a question related to the program appeared on the 2004 Primary School Examination, said Tzalam. The proponents hope that more items on African and Mayan civilization would be included on the exam. According to Tzalam, the Ministry of Education?s Examination Unit has committed to making this 2% of the PSE Social Studies test.

On Wednesday morning, Iyo and Tzalam briefed officials from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Culture on the program. Education Minister Francis Fonseca, Culture Minister Mark Espat, President of UB Dr. Corinth Morter Lewis and personnel from the Ministry of Education and NICH attended. The government agencies pledged their continued support.

Apart from the teachers? and students? manuals, handbooks and texts that have been printed for the program; NICH also makes videos, DVD?s and maps available to the schools to reinforce the lessons.

The African and Mayan history program dates back to 2002, when a task force was set up to develop the program. In 2003, it was piloted at the upper division level and last year it was fully implemented at all levels of primary school.

According to NICH, the main objectives of the program are: (1) to methodically infuse, introduce, reinforce and strengthen the teaching of African and Maya history and civilizations in primary, secondary and tertiary level institutions in Belize; (2) to draw inspiration from past achievements and accomplishments of the two world class civilizations of Africa and the Maya world; (3) to increase pride in self, cultural identity and build resilience in self and country through linkage and integration (despite the experiences of slavery, colonialism and postcolonial challenges); (4) to improve knowledge about the past to chart a better future, critical thinking, enquiry and communication skills; and (5) to enhance values and attitudes towards self, culture and country for optimal productivity.