Cabinet embraces changes in education sector

By Aaron Humes: Cabinet returned to regular sessions this week with the return of Prime Minister John Briceno from his three-week overseas trip.

Much of the discussion was dominated by initiatives in both education and health.

The executive has approved plans to increase the age of compulsory education from 14 to 16, meaning students must complete all four years of high school at the minimum.

The Executive does this, it says, “recognizing that while this change will lead to other legislative and policy changes, it is a critical move to help to prepare Belizean students for life.”

The vaunted “free education program” begins its rollout in September under the name Belize Education Upliftment Project: Together We Rise, which will focus on providing specific targeted interventions to four schools in the Southside Belize City.

A national Curriculum Framework has been developed after months of consultation and focused effort. The highest priority of the new Framework is to build competency in students from pre-primary through to secondary levels. The 2022-2023 academic year will serve as a pilot and transition year for schools.

And the University of Belize (UB) has not been forgotten; Cabinet says it gives its support for specific areas and projects that have been identified by the University of Belize as part of the developmental requirements necessary for it to meet its national mandate.

In related news, there is support planned to strengthen the Women and Families Support Department of the Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs to improve access and service delivery to ensure comprehensive support services to women and families and provide a strengthened response to domestic violence. This initiative will include the hiring of additional personnel to assist vulnerable groups that may be experiencing a range of social issues.

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