In Corozal Southeast, Belize, a protracted educational dilemma continues as Sarteneja Baptist High School enters its fourth year without a permanent facility. Area Representative Florencio Marin Jr. has broken his silence regarding the institution’s prolonged struggle, asserting his ongoing collaboration with school administrators to secure a lasting solution.
Marin emphasized the division’s broader educational landscape, noting that three high schools currently serve the rural area, including the government-supported St. Viator High School located minutes away, which offers tuition-free education. Despite these alternatives, Sarteneja Baptist High’s student body continues their studies in temporarily borrowed spaces, primarily within the village community center and adjacent buildings.
The representative detailed his office’s historical support, including financial assistance to settle outstanding bills, donations of computer equipment, and help securing additional teaching staff. Regarding the facility crisis, Marin explained that the school’s previous landlord terminated their lease, prompting the Village Council to provide interim accommodations.
“We are actively working with the government to determine when construction of a proper school building can be incorporated into the development cycle,” Marin stated during a telephone interview. “While other parties have expressed interest in assisting, no concrete agreements have been finalized.”
The situation highlights the challenges facing rural education infrastructure in Belize, where despite government efforts to provide accessible education, specific communities continue to experience facility shortages that impact learning conditions.