FIFA Foundation, FFB hold training sessions to advance Digital Education Programme across Belize

Published by [email protected] at April 25, 2025

Posted: Friday, April 25, 2025. 10:57 am CST.

Teachers from Toledo and Stann Creek who participated in the FIFA Foundation Digital Education Programme training workshop on April 3, 2025, in Dangriga. Photo Credit: FFB

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The FIFA Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology and the Football Federation of Belize (FFB), continues to drive progress in the implementation of the FIFA Foundation Digital Education Programme, an initiative designed to revolutionize education through technology and innovation.

The FFB said in a statement that following the handover of digital equipment to 40 participating schools in November 2024, FIFA Foundation representatives returned to Belize in April 2025 to conduct a series of in-person training sessions. These workshops are considered a crucial step toward ensuring the programme’s long-term success and sustainability.

“As part of the programme’s structure, each participating school selected at least one dedicated teacher to serve as a ‘Champion,’ a passionate educator who will lead the initiative at their school and serve as a mentor to their peers,” the FFB stated. A total of 44 Champion Teachers were selected and received personalized, hands-on training from FIFA Foundation representatives during the April visit.

The programme is expected to expand significantly over the next three years, impacting 40 schools, training over 300 teachers, and reaching more than 10,000 students. With the integration of cutting-edge digital tools, including robotics training, the initiative aims to foster critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration among Belizean youth.

FIFA Foundation Digital Education Programme training workshop on April 3, 2025, in Dangriga. Photo Credit: FFB

“The Football Federation of Belize extends heartfelt gratitude to the FIFA Foundation for bringing this transformative programme to Belize,” the FFB said, expressing gratitude for the partnership and highlighting the programme’s potential to transform education in Belize.

One of the Champion Teachers Morlin Mario Bull from Dangriga’s Zion Seventh Day Adventist School, shared the teachers’ enthusiasm about the initiative, noting how the training will empower educators to engage students in dynamic and innovative learning experiences.

“Students will be learning how to code, eventually leading up to this final part of the curriculum where it deals the robotics,” Bull said.

“Today we were taught a more specific [robotics] coding, so, that students can use within the classroom to get a better understanding of how software can also be turned into hardware and how we can manipulate the devices and the robotics sets using the same previously taught coding language, now bringing it to real life.

“Students don’t learn computer for computer sake, they take it and apply it to different aspects of their lives.”

Teacher Morlin Mario Bull, right, with FFB Acting Secretary General Ian Jones at the FIFA Foundation Digital Education Programme training workshop on April 3, 2025, in Dangriga. Photo Credit: FFB

Bull said the teachers developed a robotic set that simulates a penalty shootout. They programmed it to attempt to block the ball from entering the goal using a joystick.

The selected teachers attended the training session held in four different areas: Orange Walk Town on March 31, Belize City on April 1, Santa Elena on April 2, and Dangriga on April 3.

The FFB said the teachers’ involvement ensures that the programme will have lasting benefits within the schools and communities it serves.

The FFB said concluded that with continued collaboration and investment in educational technology, the FIFA Foundation Digital Education Programme stands to become a key driver of digital learning advancements in Belize.

Penalty shootout robotic set developed at the FIFA Foundation Digital Education Programme training workshop on April 3, 2025, in Dangriga. Photo Credit: FFB

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