March was a rather active month for the National Assembly of Belize not just with the Sittings of the House of Representatives and the Sitting of the Senate, but especially for school visits and tours. Schools countrywide made their way to the Capital, Belmopan City, to sit in the Public Galleries of the National Assembly and learn about the Legislative Branch of Government.
Schools namely, Solomon’s S.D.A Primary School, Solid Rock Primary School, Holy Angels R.C. School, Our Lady of Guadalupe High School, James Garbutt S.D.A Primary School, San Isidro Government School, and Ladyville Evangelical School scheduled days out of the month to receive an educational tour. The schools of Holy Angels R.C. School and Our Lady of Guadalupe High School were fortunate to sit in the Public Galleries on the 22nd and the 23rd of the month during the Budget Debate to get a first-hand view of one of the most prominent Sittings of the House of Representatives in the country.
A total of seven schools chose to visit the National Assembly of Belize as a part of their educational tour. Approximately 288 students, 42 parents, and 21 teachers were present in the Public Galleries throughout the month of March. The visiting classes ranged from Standard 1 to Standard 6, even a fourth-form class of Our Lady of Guadalupe High School.
They learned about the functions of the Upper and Lower Houses, the roles of the Area Representatives and Senators, the role of the Governor General, and most importantly, the law-making process. Critical components of the Chamber were also displayed for the groups to get the “full picture”, such as the actual setup for a Sitting, the Mace, and the Law Books containing the Acts of Belize.
Overall, each group was unique with distinguished characters who were engaged in the presentations. Interesting and thought-provoking questions were asked which led to more informative discussions. Without a doubt, it was an enjoyable experience for all the students, teachers, and parents visiting as well as the staff presenting.