University of Belize calls out Government on campaign promise to restore $10 million subvention and increase by $1 million annually

Published by [email protected] at June 21, 2025

Posted: Saturday, June 21, 2025. 11:39 am CST.

By Aaron Humes: The University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union (UBFSU) is voicing strong concerns regarding the government’s failure to fulfill financial promises made to the university. Julianne Pasos, Acting President of the UBFSU, highlighted this issue during a recent press conference, emphasizing the detrimental impact that inadequate funding is having on the institution’s operations.

Since taking office in 2020, the government had pledged to restore the university’s subvention to $10 million, with plans to increase it by $1 million each year. However, according to Pasos, funding has instead dwindled to its lowest levels, with the university receiving only $7.65 million in subventions from 2021 to 2024. “The subvention is not just something we are calling for; it’s something that the university needs,” she stated.

In a press release from June of last year, the UBFSU previously called out the government for its insufficient funding, to which the then-government responded by citing the economic impacts of the pandemic. “They said it would be irresponsible to increase the subvention given the circumstances we were facing,” Pasos explained. Yet, she noted the contradiction in the government’s commitment to the “responsible sustainable development of the University of Belize,” as articulated in another released statement.

Despite these promises, the most recent budget presented still allocated only $7.65 million for the university, with no plans for future increases. Pasos stressed the urgent consequences of this financial strain, pointing to a worrying trend of brain drain among faculty and staff. “We are having problems keeping our faculty and staff; our wages are not competitive, our academic programs are suffering,” she said.

With aspirations for accreditation and program enhancement, UBFSU is advocating for an urgent increase in funding to ensure that the university can meet its educational goals and retain qualified personnel. “This funding would take us a long way towards that,” Pasos concluded, urging the government to honor its commitments for the betterment of education in Belize.

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