School in Belize

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology (MoECST) sets the national curriculum, learning objectives and performance standards. District Education Officers and school administrations are involved in admissions, transfers and implementation across the six education districts. Schools may be state-funded, government-assisted or private. Government-assisted schools are usually operated by religious or community organisations and receive government grants or government-funded teachers’ salaries. Preschool, locally usually called preschool or pre-primary, typically serves children aged 3 to 4 and lasts two years. Entry is possible from 2 years and 8 months at the earliest. Attendance is not compulsory and is not a prerequisite for admission to primary school. Preschools plan at least 180 school days with approximately three hours of instruction per day, monitor children’s development and may issue a Preschool Certificate. Costs and funding depend on the individual institution; a general entitlement to free preschool is not documented. Primary school comprises Infants 1 and 2 and Standards 1 to 6 and lasts eight years. The official age range is approximately 5 to 12 years, although entry is possible from 4 years and 8 months at the earliest. About four instructional hours per day are planned for Infants and about five hours for Standards 1 to 6. Reading, writing, arithmetic, life skills and general knowledge are core subjects. The programme ends with the Primary School Certificate. The former PSE examination and the BJAT have not continued since 2020; the BDAT was used only temporarily in 2021. The national competency-based curriculum has been implemented in primary schools since 2023/24. Secondary school comprises Form 1 to Form 4 and lasts four years. It covers lower and upper secondary education; the official age range is generally 13 to 16 years, although practical programmes may extend approximately from ages 12 to 18. The usual prerequisite is the Primary School Certificate. Where places are limited, school grades or earlier selection procedures may be taken into account. Subjects include English, Mathematics, Spanish, Social Studies, Integrated Science, Information Technology and Religion. In higher grades, possible specialisations include business, science or the arts. The school awards a Secondary School Diploma; CSEC examinations, that is, Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, are usually taken in Form 4 and may play a role in later study funding or admission to a further education institution. Primary and secondary schools operated by the state or under government assistance are generally free of charge. Special fees require approval from the Chief Education Officer. Private schools set their own fees. The National Textbook Program provides textbooks for Language Arts, Mathematics and Social Studies at state and government-assisted primary schools. The Education Upliftment Program supports selected state secondary schools with, among other things, fees, meals, school uniforms, transport, equipment and infrastructure; these benefits do not automatically apply nationwide at every school. The school year runs from 1 September to 31 August. Classes typically begin on the first Monday after 1 September and end on 30 June or the preceding Friday. Three terms together comprise at least 180 school days. First admission to primary or secondary school usually takes place during the first school month. After at least three consecutive days of absence, a school may remove a child from its register unless illness or another serious reason applies. For children of compulsory school age, the school must inform the district education officer (District Education Officer). Parents or guardians submit a notice when a child is absent. A Transfer Certificate is normally required to transfer between state or government-assisted schools. For a transfer in primary school, the consent of the District Education Officer and a recognised reason may be required. Under the Education Rules, a school generally may not refuse a transfer requested by the parents. School rules govern behaviour and dress. Schools should take particular personal, economic and social needs into account, develop support programmes and protect children from sexual harassment and physical or psychological abuse. The Special Education Unit provides support with assessment, screening, finding a school place, discussions with teachers and parents, home visits and hearing tests. Depending on need, support may include inclusive provision, special classes or schools, learning support, life-skills training, speech, physical or occupational therapy, diagnostics and assistance from additional staff. Access is based on individual need and assessment; there is no blanket assignment. Provision, transport, fees and support differ by district, school and provider. In the 2023/24 school year, Belize had 225 preschools, 317 primary schools and 65 secondary schools. Enrolment stood at 6,662 children in preschool, 59,602 in primary school and 22,693 in secondary school. The transition rate from primary to secondary school was 80.2 percent. Access to and retention in secondary school remain a central practical challenge, particularly when provision, transport or support differs between districts.