Rationale of the action plan
The various consultations before and during the National Education Summit (2004) yielded hundreds of recommendations. These recommendations made it very clear that the Ministry of Education would need to take bold and decisive steps to reshape the education system in order to deliver innovative ways of meeting Belize’s education needs in the twenty-first century. Working committees comprised of ministerial personnel and experienced educators reviewed the recommendations and organized them into an implementation plan that would guide the ministry’s activities over the next decade.
Concept of lifelong learning
Although the action plan targets all stages of learning in the education system and refers to non-formal education, the term “lifelong learning” is not used. The action plan, therefore, does not include a definition or description of lifelong learning.
Main challenges
- Access opportunities and quality of education in early childhood education must be improved
- Existing programmes for teacher education are not able to meet the current need for increased access
- Education for children with special education needs must be based on the principles of inclusion and “least restrictive environment”
- Increasing numbers of people are unable to acquire training and certification through the formal education system
- Life skills must be developed, particularly at primary and secondary levels
- Existing facilities in technical and vocational education and training need to be upgraded; there is also a need for increased access and recognized certification in these sectors
Main targets and measures
The action plan targets all education sectors from early childhood to adult education. The following actions are foreseen in the plan:
- Early childhood education: reduce cost of preschool education; provide universal access to education; establish legal framework for operation of preschools; provide better home support for parents
- Teacher training: increase opportunities for training at district level; improve capacity to address special needs in the classroom; establish an appropriate library or resource centre
- Special education: increase efficiency and effectiveness; establish legal framework for operation of special education institutions; develop and pilot programme for gifted students; allow special arrangements for all examinations
- Adult and continuing education: increase capacity for community outreach; implement primary and secondary programmes countrywide; re-establish Literacy Council; establish mechanism for greater private-sector involvement
- Curriculum and assessment: strengthen in-service programmes to meet specific training needs and link with academic credit system; ensure that civic education and agriculture are included in primary and secondary curricula; establish performance standards applicable to all
- Technical and vocational education: establish new campuses and rehabilitate existing centres; provide non-traditional skills training to women; develop or adopt a standard format for curricula development
- Higher education: ratify policies and procedures for higher education; establish transparent system for scholarships at tertiary level; provide necessary support for establishment of National Accreditation Council
- Policy development: collect and review existing policy documents with appropriate persons; ratify and publish policy document
Particular feature of the action plan
In the area of teacher education, the action plan addresses the development of the Belize Institute for Teacher Education as a branch of the Ministry of Education. The institute will focus on ensuring that access to training is increased without this having any negative impact on quality. The institute will also provide opportunities for in-service training in order to help teachers meet licensing requirements. Further activities in this area include facilitating provision of pedagogical training for untrained secondary teachers; facilitating provision of teacher training to associate-level teachers at five regional centres; developing systems and capacities for provision of distance training for teachers; monitoring evaluation and implementing accountability mechanism; standardizing assessment system for teacher certification across institutions; developing a database of records of teachers employed in the system and reinstating teacher awards for outstanding teachers.
Relevant documents that the action plan refers to:
- Belize. Ministry of Education. 2004. Recommendations of the National Education Summit
Stakeholders involved in the development of the action plan:
- Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (former Ministry of Education)
Stakeholders responsible for implementation of the action plan:
- Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (former Ministry of Education)
- Ministry of Health
- Government of Belize
- Early Childhood Education Developmental Centre
- Quality Assurance and Development Services
- District Education Centers
- Belize Institute for Teacher Education
- Belize Board for Teacher Education
- Belize National Teachers' Union
- National Center for Special Education
- Employment Training and Education Services
- National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training
- Association of Tertiary Level Institutions
- UNICEF
Issuing Body
Ministry of Education
