The Board of Education, which tirmly establishedh

was
by the
Education Ordinance of 1892, was a colonial mechanism which t
e
devised to ensure the etticient operati
metropolitan government
of education. The Boa
of the church-state colonial system of
Education was an instrument of policy with executive authorit and
remained so until 1962 when it was reduced to an advisory bodu

The church-state partnership of Belize's cducational system has

has
been criticized by some commentators as one by which the
Government has often reneged on its obligations relating to the
quality of education by relegating its respons1bility to the churches
However, the partnership has merits which need to be balanced
against its demerits. An early commentator on this issue was B.H.
Easter. His report "An Enquiry into the Educational System of
British Honduras 1933-1934" provides us with his own analysis of
the church-state partnership. His conclusions are summarized
below:

1. The system prevailed because it was the tradition and

wishes of the people of Belize to associate religion and
moral teaching with education.
2. The whole system of education was built up by missionaries
who were still pioneering in the
colony.
3. Even if it could be argued that a purely Government
system
was best for a settled and modern state, the colony could not
be said to come within this
4.
category.
The salaries paid to teachers could not
attract well-qualitied
teachers from abroad, while teachers in the devoted
colony
themselves to educational work from a
5. The churches contributed religious motive.
well to the provision of schools
and the denominational
school managers did duties, whicn
would otherwise have to be
6. The government for its
paid for by the government.
part contributed to school buildings
which the churches made use of for
church activities.
In his
recommendation B.H. Easter Suggests
suggests some
some
shortcomings:
1. The churches should
collaborate with the government
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