Saint Ignatius High School introduces new pioneering welding and NDT program; first-of-its-kind in Belize

By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: St. Ignatius High School in Santa Elena has introduced for the new school year 2023 to 2024, a new pioneering welding and NDT program, the first of its kind in Belize.

St. Ignatius is the first and only high school in Belize to introduce welding and NDT as part of its Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) focus.

Founder of the NDE Institute, Jarrus Mitchell has partnered with St. Ignatius High School to establish this program.

Today, Mitchell met with the first cohort of students enrolled in the program and their parents to share more about the curriculum.

Mitchell says that students will explore and learn more about welding and NDT testing including welding inspection which is to test the quality of materials and craftsmanship.

“The program includes teaching the students ultrasonics and radiography and teaching students to inspect welding and other materials. The NDE institute is partnering with St. Ignatius High School Forms 3 and 4 and this is the first year of the program,” Mitchell said.

“Seventeen students are now enrolled in the program and the foundation is involved in creating this collaboration. St. Ignatius is introducing the first welding and NDT inspection program in the country since no other secondary school has welding as a vocational trade,” Mitchell added.

Mitchell says that the reception has been overwhelming and the appreciation from students was displayed at the meeting.

Mitchell says that he has met with industry partners including Midwest Steel, Cayo Steel Company, Tropic Air and Maya Island Air with several site visits for educators.

In addition, Mitchell conducted a train the trainers course for educators to be well equipped for the program.

The NDE Institute is providing welding machines, boots, helmets, aprons, the curriculum and a welding instructor and a NDT instructor from the United States.

“І аm ехсіtеd tо bе раrt оf thіѕ ріоnееrіng еvеnt; іt іѕ аn орроrtunіtу tо mаkе hіѕtоrу іn the Welding & NDT industry іn Веlіzе. The curriculum that we follow is established by the Аmеrісаn Welding Society (AWS) and the American Society of Non-destructive Testing (ASNT),” Міtсhеll аѕѕеrtеd.

Рrіnсіраl оf St. Іgnаtіuѕ Ніgh, Vаnеѕѕа Nеаl ѕауѕ thаt both institutions will have a launch of the  рrоgrаm оn Ѕерtеmbеr 14, 2023 аt 10:00 аm аt thе Сауо Сеntеr fоr Еmрlоуmеnt Тrаіnіng (CСЕТ) аnd ѕtаkеhоldеrѕ ѕuсh аѕ thе Міnіѕtrу оf Еduсаtіоn, Сulturе, Ѕсіеnсе аnd Тесhnоlоgу аnd оthеr раrtnеrѕ thаt аrе ѕuрроrtіng thе рrоgrаm, wіll bе рrеѕеnt.

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