High school students across the region, including Belize, will sit the annual CSEC exams at the beginning of July and will now only have a little over six weeks to finish preparing for those papers. While there was some concern about the administration of the tests, Minister of Education Patrick Faber says that the issue […]
Students attending the University of Belize, those in the far-flung communities in the Toledo District will be able to travel to Punta Gorda to access the internet in order to do their courses online. According to the Minister of Education, the issue was raised in cabinet on Tuesday and B.T.L. has agreed to provide the […]
Secondary schools are still working out what will happen for students when the new academic year starts in September. Will they all be promoted to a new class or will some other decision be taken based on academic performance? That’s the question for many high school students and there are reports that some high schools […]
When she spoke with reporters today, Doctor Carol Babb also gave an update on the progress of the ministry’s educational programmes for students. As you know, the ministry is offering academic resources for students to do work via lessons aired on television and radio; as well as hard copies made available for those living in […]
On April twenty-second, the University of Belize issued a three-page press release to update students about steps being taken as the university navigates these uncertain COVID-19 times. There are some students, however, who are not happy about the university’s recommendation to voluntarily withdraw from courses where they are not able to “access online instruction or […]
UB’s President Sankat has said that the students withdrawing from the course will not warrant any academic or financial penalty and students will be able to re-register for such courses at the very first opportunity. Some students, however, are worried that this will push their timeline of completing their degree. President of the Student Union […]
Schools across the country remain closed likely for the rest of the academic year so the Ministry of Education has developed an online programme to keep students at all levels engage in learning. So what about teachers who are working to obtain CPD’s and student-teachers working on obtaining their licenses? The Ministry has designed a […]
The Deputy Chief Education Officer Doctor Neulin Villanueva also addressed the matter of Belizeans students who are stuck overseas and unable to return home except under special circumstances, because borders remain closed. Most universities are now doing online studies but costs relating to accommodation still apply for the students on scholarships by the government. According […]
Doctor Neulin Villanueva also spoke on promotions and graduations in primary and high school. The Ministry has decided that students will be promoted though exams will not be taken. Doctor Villanueva says that while the education rules are specific to primary schools, for secondary schools, promotion and graduations are decided by the school’s academic policies […]
Educators across the country, those whose salaries are covered by government, will be paid on April twenty-ninth, along with all other public officers. The unusually tardy payday is the result of monies having to be allocated by government amid the economic hardships stemming from the COVID-19 calamity. Following Monday’s special sitting of the House of […]
The Ministry of Education says that the nearly non-existent revenue flow has forced it to make a difficult decision. The Ministry has decided, after a meeting with managing authorities that for April, the disbursement for most schools under the Financial Allocation System will reflect the School Services Grant only. This was communicated to chairpersons and […]
The University of Belize has made plans for its student body and while its president, Professor Clement Sankat, hopes to complete semester-two of this academic year, those hopes depend entirely on the COVID-19 situation in Belize. Schools remain closed and the nation’s university, which has about five thousand enrolled students countrywide, has decided to cancel […]
April twenty-fourth is the last Friday of the month and across the country several thousand teachers were expecting that their salaries would have been deposited in their accounts going into the weekend. But, like other public officers, they too will have to wait until next Wednesday to collect their pay. It’s only a difference of […]
In a meeting with Financial Secretary Joseph Waight back in March, assurances were given that teachers would be paid at the end of each month, notwithstanding the financial constraints. The fact that government is late with April salaries raises concern that there are challenging times ahead in respect of meeting the wage bill in its […]
A group of Harvard students and one from Emory University have joined efforts to provide free tutoring service for fourth and six formers while classes remain suspended. The services are being offered free of cost and the idea is to have the tutoring programme run at least until the end of May with one or […]
Deputy Chief Education Officer Cecilia Ramirez Smith was the featured guest on today’s Ask the Experts Webcast. Students are at home doing home-based learning and so the Ministry of Education is adjusting it programmes. Smith presented further details outlining the Ministry of Education’s response and action taken for pre-primary, primary and secondary education during this […]
And continuing on the matter of education, Cecilia Ramirez Smith says that the lessons and work being given to students from the pre-primary, to high school levels must not be assessed for grades. She says that the work itself is to keep students engaged and to help reinforce important skills but not meant to be […]
While that information is for the students, there is also some news tonight for the teachers. Cecilia Ramirez Smith of the Ministry of Education announced that the processing of teachers licenses continue. She tells us more about the steps required to apply for the license during this time. Cecilia Smith, Deputy Chief Education Officer […]
…and while the ministry has called on teachers to play a critical role during this time that classes remain closed, today Cecilia Ramirez Smith says that they are also making some resources available for all teachers. Those resources include online material to offer support to help them transition to distance learning. Cecilia Smith, Deputy […]
High Schools normally close in May followed by primary schools in June for the summer break. But COVID-19 has disrupted every facet of life. The Ministry of Education today announced via webcast, a series of measures that will apply for the rest of the school year. Now classes were initially suspended in March and scheduled […]
A new budget for the 2020 fiscal calendar came into effect at the beginning of April, but with the fluid economic situation involving COVID-19, there are concerns as to whether government will be able to meet teachers’ salaries in the months ahead. When asked for assurances to that end earlier today, Minister of Education Patrick […]
The fiscal allowance for education is the second largest area for recurrent expenditure for government, after the Ministry of Finance. Given the dire state of the local economy amid the coronavirus crisis, it is expected that budgets for all government ministries will be cut. Education, however, remains a key priority and, according to Minister Faber, […]
Ending the school year with home-based learning is a historic first for the education sector when traditionally the months of May and June are reserved for examinations. Whereas BJAT, P.S.E. and CXCs are held in those months, this year those papers have been waived. But what will teachers be doing during this extended period away […]
When will classes be re-opened? That’s the question parents, teachers and students are asking. But that answer isn’t so clear cut at this time. As you know there are a number of restrictions that have been placed on the country as we remain under a state of emergency and curfew in place. Today, during the […]
Schools across the country have closed due to COVID-19 as a way to enforce social distancing among the young. It means that thousands of children are now at home and have to adapt to home-based learning. Parents are finding ways to keep the children engaged and learning during school hours, while teachers are creating new […]
