Ministry of Education; Culture; Science and Technology

On Wednesday, October 2nd, the Belize National Teachers Union (BNTU) issued a press release reporting that more than 130 teachers had not received their salaries for September. This non-payment led to significant discontent among the affected teachers, who anticipated their hard-earned compensation to be fully disbursed by the end of the month. In a quick response, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology (MoECST) addressed the recent concern. They recognize and share the problem of ensuring that teachers are paid promptly and efficiently and providing the public with clarifications.

Under the theme “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace,” International Literacy Day 2024 was observed across Belize. On Friday, September 13th, the San Pedro Roman Catholic Primary School celebrated the annual event with education and fun activities that engaged their students in literature, drama, languages, patriotism, and folklore.

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology (MOECST) has launched a website called Access501. This website offers a wide range of educational resources for Belizeans to learn about the country’s history, culture, and natural environment. The official launch occurred on August 29th at the House of Culture in Belize City.

The Belize Education Upliftment Project (EUP) is a government-backed initiative to improve education in secondary schools. It covers student tuition, meals, uniforms, transportation, and educational devices and enhances the school's infrastructure and resources. On March 8th, Prime Minister John Briceño announced an expansion of the EUP. He mentioned that 12 new high schools would join the program for the 2024-2025 academic year, including the San Pedro High School (SPHS). Currently, the SPHS management is in discussions with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology (MoECST) to address the higher costs of resources and services in San Pedro Town compared to the mainland. SPHS supports the project but is seeking adjustments to ensure it can cover its operational expenses.

The San Pedro High School (SPHS) is preparing to end the school year and is in the process of welcoming new students from the different primary schools. With that comes implementing the Belize Education Upliftment Project (EUP), an educational reform benefiting government-owned or aided secondary schools.

On Friday, February 2nd, the National Assembly of Belize passed legislation to raise Belize’s compulsory education age to 16. Before this, education was mandatory for children between five and 14 years of age. The Education and Training Act of 2011 amendment means that children will be legally required to remain in school until they’re 16.

The Ministry of Health & Wellness, through its surveillance system, was alerted to a potential case of meningitis in a six-year-old resident of Belize City. Preliminary laboratory results suggest that it is not bacterial meningitis, and that the child is currently in good health.

On January 12, 2024, the pro-tempore Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Committee (STIAC) was established in Belmopan. Its purpose is to guide the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology (MoECST) in the development of Belize’s first National Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy (2024-2034). The world has entered the Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterized by robotics, big data, artificial intelligence, and automation. The strategy aims to prepare and move Belize into this new era with the goal of attaining sustainable human development.