In the Corozal District of Belize, Sarteneja Baptist High School represents a stark case of educational infrastructure neglect, having operated without a dedicated school building for more than four consecutive years. The institution’s 84 students receive their education under profoundly challenging circumstances, with some classes conducted in makeshift outdoor sheds constructed from donated materials.
The school suffers from critical staffing shortages, maintained by just four teachers alongside a principal who performs dual roles as administrator and full-time instructor. The complete absence of specialized facilities—including science laboratories and computer labs—severely limits the educational experience offered to students.
Darnel Cruz, Secretary of Sarteneja’s Village Council and a local primary school teacher, provided insight into the ongoing struggle. Community leaders identified a potential construction site near the airstrip, but development remains paralyzed by funding deficiencies. Currently, students utilize the community center as a temporary measure, though this solution falls far short of meeting educational requirements.
With graduation numbers expected to exceed available spaces this June, parental concerns are mounting. Families are increasingly vocal in demanding governmental intervention and a sustainable, long-term resolution. School administration has maintained silence on the matter, while the community continues advocating for the construction of permanent facilities that would allow students to learn in a proper academic environment.