The Ministry of Education has refuted claims that teachers in Belize were left unpaid, following concerns raised by the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU). Minister of Education Oscar Requena clarified in a recent interview that the issue stemmed from delayed allowances and communication gaps rather than unpaid salaries. The controversy dates back to December, when some teachers experienced delays in receiving hardship, responsibility, and salary adjustment allowances. To address this, the ministry issued advance salaries, with the understanding that the amounts would later be deducted from future payments. Requena acknowledged that the lack of timely communication from the financial center may have caused confusion when the deductions were processed. He emphasized that the ministry is actively collaborating with the BNTU to resolve the matter swiftly. The ministry has assured stakeholders that efforts are being made to prevent such misunderstandings in the future. News 5 has reached out to the BNTU for further comment.