Teachers Explore Belize’s History and Sovereignty Ahead of Independence

Belizean Studies teachers spent three days in Belmopan examining Belize’s history, sovereignty and nationhood as part of preparations to mark the country’s 45th year of Independence. The “Belize @45: Examining Our Sovereignty and Nationhood” workshop, held from August 5 to 7, featured discussions on Belize’s historical development and how that history is presented in schools. Among the sessions was a presentation by historian and diplomat Assad Shoman, along with virtual sessions and a full day of activities at the George Price Centre for Peace and Development. The workshop was organized through a collaboration involving the Institute for Social and Cultural Research, Belize Archives and Records Service, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology, the George Price Centre, the University of Belize and Galen University. But the initiative did not start with teachers, it began in April as an activity focused on students, when Head of Social Science at Stann Creek Ecumenical College, Christie Garbutt, invited Shoman to speak about the realities of slavery and colonization in Belize. Garbutt says the experience opened the students’ minds to a deeper understanding of Belize’s history, and the positive response led organizers to expand the conversation to teachers.

Organizers are now looking to take the conversation into communities, with plans for a one-day tour in each district. During the day, the activities will focus on students, while the evening session will be open to the wider public. The schedule for the district tours will be published and included in the National September Celebrations calendar.