Classes for some University of Belize students at its numerous campuses were cancelled today, Monday, as a number of teachers and faculty members called in sick.

The “sick” call-in was in response to the faculty’s and staff’s discontent with UB management. On Thursday, February 14, the staff and faculty gathered at the Belmopan campus for a demonstration against some alleged irregularities found in a payroll audit that was done on the institution.

Allison Crawford, president of the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Association (UBFSA) and also a member of the Board of Trustees, has been very vocal on the issue. However, in light of the sick-out, Crawford was unavailable for comments today, and so were other members of staff and faculty.

Amandala visited two of the Belize City campuses, where only a few instructors and students were found. We understand that those teachers who were present were there for personal reasons and not in opposition to their colleagues’ sick-out.

Amandala was told that the departments who held regular classes today were the pharmacy and primary education departments, which hold most classes in the evening.

A meeting was held today in Belize City with the Minister of Education Hon. Patrick Faber and the UB Board of Trustees. No one was available for comment after the meeting, but it is understood that the media will be addressed on matters discussed sometime this week.