By Belize Live News Staff: The Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) hosted an educational clinic for teachers in the Belize District on Tuesday aimed at addressing challenges faced by educators in the areas of employment documentation and related issues. BNTU President Nadia Caliz explained that the clinic was part of a broader effort to assist teachers who have struggled with concerns such as CPD hours, income tax records, and the completion of their TD (Tax Deduction) forms.
“Teachers have raised several issues over the years, including challenges with completing CPD hours and dealing with administrative obstacles in the Ministry of Education,” Caliz explained. “We also face problems with income tax filings and the reconciliation of records, which makes it hard for teachers to complete their TD forms.”
To address these concerns, the BNTU invited various government entities and agencies to the clinic to ensure that teachers could resolve their issues directly and efficiently. “We wanted to bring these entities to the teachers, so they don’t need to take a day off to handle these matters. Today, they can get their issues sorted out on the spot,” Caliz said.
The clinic also helped teachers who had applied for land and property but had not received responses from the Lands Department. Caliz noted that the BNTU worked closely with Minister of Education Francis Fonseca and Minister of Natural Resources Cordel Hyde to streamline the process for educators, ensuring they received their NAS numbers and necessary land documents.
“Teachers are walking away from today’s clinic with critical information and documentation,” Caliz remarked. “They now have what they need to apply for property or resolve outstanding employment concerns.”
The clinic in the Belize District is part of a countrywide initiative by the BNTU, with similar clinics being held in other districts to assist teachers across the nation. These efforts come as part of the BNTU’s ongoing commitment to improving conditions for Belize’s educators.
