Belize Has No National Accreditation Agency

Osmany Salas

The second resolution that was passed dealt with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. The Senate ratified the agreement establishing the Caribbean Community Accreditation Agency for Education and Training. The Agency is to promote and develop an efficient tertiary education and training system in the country. Through the widening of access to quality tertiary education and training, it is expected that the enhancement and acceleration of economic and social development would be achieved. Belize met several items on the criteria to form part of the agency, except one. The Senator for the N.G.O.s noted that one of the most important requirements is the establishment of a national accreditation agency that does not exist in Belize.

Osmany Salas, Senator for N.G.O.s

“We have not established our national accreditation agency as yet and that’s a case with St Lucia and Belize, the only two in the Caribbean from what I understand that have not established their accreditation council although this has been in discussion from 2004. Some clarity was needed as to whether s relevant act has been passed to allow the establishment of that national accreditation council but I was not able to locate it if one was passed at all. My understanding is that the Ministry of Education has proposed the Belize Quality Assurance and Qualifications Agency to potentially play the role of that accreditation agency but from what I understand that is not the necessarily the advisable way to go. That seems to be set up more like a school inspectorate.”