THIS RESIDENTIAL HIGH SCHOOL IS LOCATED IN BLUE CREEK VILLAGE IN THE TOLEDO DISTRICT OF BELIZE OPERATING IN THE BUILDINGS PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY TOLEDO FARMERS' DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
TWELVE STUDENTS ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THIS VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL. SUBJECTS TAUGHT IN THE SCHOOL ARE BOTH ACADEMIC AND VOCATIONAL, MEANWHILE TECHNICAL AND COMPUTER STUDIES ARE APPLIED.
THE SCHOOL IS A MAYA LEADERS' ALLIANCE INITIATIVE WITH THE YUCATECAN MAYAS FROM THE NORTH AND WEST OF BELIZE.
VISION STATEMENT
OUR VISION IS TO CREATE AN INSTITUTION THAT DELIVERS TO THE SOCIETY STUDENTS
WHO ARE RESOURCEFUL, INNOVATIVE AND PRODUCTIVE AND WHO WILL LEAD THE DEVELOPMENT
OF OUR DISTRICT AND COUNTRY.
The Center was created:
The 3 Pillars of the Center
LEARNING - The school has structured all of its activities to ensure that learning occurs at every step. In learning, the student will produce and in producing the student will consume. In consuming the student will learn to generate income from public consumption. The student will learn both practical and theory but one will not precede but instead accompany the other. All courses will compliment and support the other regardless of how distant they may look from the other. Before a student can become productive and successful he must be convinced of his potential and worth. History and Cultural Studies is therefore a vital component in order for this to be achieved.
SELF-RELIANCE - Besides learning from what he does, the student will also consume the fruits of his labour; whether the vegetables, the milk or the meat. In LEARNING the student will be producing. The engagement of the student in course activities must result in productivity because this is what will sustain the student physically. This is to ensure the sustenance of the students but also for the students to learn self-reliance. The entire school's environment must be geared towards imbuing the student to believe in himself.
ENTERPRISE - We must exert all energies and at every opportunity, to ensure that learning occurs at the same time productivity is the end result. This is important because the students don't pay at the school, their productivity must be seen as an enterprise. The student must become a commercial producer. The production will be consumed and it will also be sold. Revenues are to be generated not only for the sustainability of the school but also for students to learn the complete commercial cycle. They must have real-life business experience. There is no use knowing how to produce and not knowing how to convert it into income.
POLICIES
ADMISSION
No student coming to attend the TUMUL K'IN CENTER OF LEARNING is required to pay any tuition or fees to the institution. If the student still wishes to pay it will be accepted. It is however requested that the student doesn't come empty handed. The student may bring as a donation to the school poultry, livestock, equipments or seeds. This will be used to start and strengthen the school's programs and will also in the end sustain the student while he stays with us.
BOARDING
The students will live on campus and will be given the opportunity to visit
their families once every three months. Students will be provided with rooms
and sometimes may have to share as the institution is still growing. The upkeep
and enhance of the rooms are the students' responsibility. Rules governing
the dormitory will be provided to the students and will be enforced by the
resident principal.
The school will provide food to its students. At times the students will be
required to assist in this sector.
COURSES
The first year will be dedicated to confirming the basic knowledge of the
students. It will be a preparatory period thereafter more specific courses
will be taught. The Center is an agricultural and vocational school therefore
its activities will be developed and presented in order to meet this goal.
GOVERNANCE
An 11-member Board of Directors governs the school. Mayan organizations such as the Toledo Maya Cultural Council, The Kekchi Council of Belize, The Toledo Alcaldes' Assocation and the Toledo Maya Women's Coucil have an automatic seat on the board. They however may withdraw whenever they wish. Other members of the board are the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Agriculture, a local Businessman, a teacher, the alcalde of Blue Creek Village, a student and a parent.
THE CREATORS OF TUMUL K'IN
Mr. Angle Tzec - Mr. Tzec is a Yucatecan Maya from the Cayo District and has spent many years in the struggle of indigenous development. He is a professional agronomist and a hard worker. His heart is in TUMUL K'IN and the Maya people. He has the skills and the knowledge to make the dream become real at our school. He is the best technical expert we could ever have behind the wheels.
Dr. Filiberto Penados - Dr. Penados is a professional educator and is currently a professor at the University of Belize. He is one of the few Mayas who has a Ph.D. Dr. Penados is a graduate of the University of New Zealand and he did his thesis on the pedagogy of marginalized peoples. He believes that every one can learn regardless; even if illiterate they can learn and understand their world. He is the mastermind behind the curriculum of TUMUL K'IN.
Mr. Valentino Shal - Mr. Shal is the youngest of the crowd but he is visionary and dynamic. He is the one behind the enterprise sector of the school. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Belize and has done entrepreneurship studies at a university in the USA. He believes that the Mayas are the most blessed people with numerous and sufficient resources and believes that our impediment to development is the lack of development in our potential. Mr. Shal is interested in the development of the people and wants to see TUMUL K'IN get down to business.
Mr. Gregorio Ch'oc - Mr. Ch'oc is one of the new Maya leaders in Belize and is committed to the development and transformation of our district and people. He is a former high school teacher and is trained in Management at the Sasketchewan University in Canada. He believes that people should be allowed the opportunity to develop themselves with guidance from institutions like TUMUL K'IN. He strongly believes in the value of local knowledge and also believes that knowing our history gives us a new sense of our lost pride. Mr. Ch'oc is the politician of the school, so to speak.
Hon. Daniel Silva - Hon. Silva is the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and Cooperatives. His vision and practicality has been the major force into the establishment of TUMUL K'IN. He is undoubtedly a strong believer in the potential of the agriculture industry in Toledo. Hon. Silva is himself of Mayan descent from the Cayo District. He doesn't believe in much "consultancies" and "feasibility studies" but in hard work, practicality and proven knowledge. The strength of his conviction is felt at TUMUL K'IN as the abandoned area has now become alive.
Mr. Hugh O'Brien - Mr. O'Brien has been in the agriculture sector for a long time. He was the principal of the Belize College of Agriculture and is now the Chief Agriculture Office under Minister Silva. Mr. O'Brien is one of the few who made it career-wise and doesn't forget his roots. He is an honest worker and prefers the fields to his desk. He identifies with the underdeveloped and does his best to uplift them. Mr. O'Brien surely feels at home at TUMUL K'IN.
