Last week, the Ministry of Education issued a warning about an entity called “The Ultimate Business University.” This organization claims it plans to bring five thousand students from the U.S. to Belize and hire a whopping thirty-five thousand teachers. It also asserts that it’s registered as an educational institution in Belize. However, the ministry clarified that this business is neither registered nor legally recognized in Belize and has no official ties to the Government of Belize. Earlier today, Minister of Education Francis Fonseca addressed the issue, emphasizing the importance of verifying such claims.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
“ I know it doesn’t sound to me at all feasible or logical, it’s just my view. Listen, I can tell you, we get lots of proposals from institutions all over the world. Every month you get one or two from all over the world. You don’t know who these people are, you don’t know anything about them. My own view is that would not be something we would do. consider at all, but they would have to make a, as I said, there’s a procedure in place. There’s a legal procedure in place for you to apply, especially if you want to open some offshore school. There’s a special regime in place, especially for those kinds of institutions because so many of them have been associated with scams. Fly by night institutions that are just taking people’s money. So we have to be extremely careful with those types of institutions. In fact, we, we’re looking to close down some that got licenses previously. Yeah, but that would have to be looked at carefully.”
On the education front, Nelma Mortis, the U.D.P. Standard Bearer for Port Loyola, highlighted the pressing issue of teachers’ welfare. Mortis emphasized that the opposition stands firmly with the nation’s teachers and is committed to improving their conditions once elected.
Nelma Mortis, U.D.P. Candidate, Port Loyola
“Our teachers are leaving the profession due to a combination due to an overwhelming number of factors, including workload, lack for support from administration and management, increasing student behavior issues and that is an effect of our social ills, high levels of stress, excessive license requirements, poor working conditions and a feeling of not being valued by the community or parents, which lead to burnouts and a desire to pursue different career goals. Many of them are now moving to call center work. They are on life support. Another area that is defunct in the ministry of education is that of addressing the related issues of salaries, increments and allowances in an efficient manner. A blue bone was thrown at us and I refer to it as a blue bone, because according to the PUP we don’t deserve meat. We were promised that teachers would correct the matter of the increments and outstanding salaries, allowances for teachers. That is a matter of the PUP showing us how good they are at engineering and electioneering. To date six hundred and fifty teachers have not received their two-year increments, salary adjustments or upgrade. While some of these occurrences are beyond the control of GOB, there are some things that could have been done to soften the rough times. This UDP is standing in solidarity with the BNTU as they agree to have a protest on February seventh, 2025.”
Earlier this week, Punta Gorda Town celebrated the grand opening of its very first USpace at the PG Public Library. This new hub is set to equip residents with the digital tools and training they need to thrive in today’s tech-driven world. Toledo East Area Representative, Doctor Osmond Martinez, shared that this is just the beginning of many exciting developments for the community. Late last year, the cabinet greenlit several key initiatives aimed at boosting tourism and sparking economic growth in the south. This includes major infrastructure upgrades and the development of a new marina in Punta Gorda. Doctor Martinez elaborated on these ambitious plans and their potential impact on the community.
Osmond Martinez
Dr. Osmond Martinez, Area Representative, Toledo East
“Six out of ten children living in poverty. There is only one secret to get people out of poverty, and that is true education. So, and I am so grateful that under Plan Belize, which I was part of the Ministry of Economic Development when I was the CEO we led the medium-term development strategy, 2022 2026. So it’s the Plan Belize medium term development strategy. It’s well aligned and compatible with the sustainable development goals. You know I remember when we started back in 2020, the main objective was then health. Because it was about saving people’s life and saving the economy. But now there is a lot of investments going into education. And education is the only way to get people out of poverty. That’s how you will increase human capital. That’s how you will become innovative. That’s how we will start to attract investments. And let me tell you something young boys and girls, you know, a lot of opportunities are coming for Punta Gorda. The marina is in its med, as is today, we have the architect and engineers meeting at the Punta Gorda Town Council to start to finalize the building of the marina. We have the call center, which I understand that Monday they will start with some agents already. We have the tourism sector that we’re planning to boost. But there is a lot of more opportunities that are coming that we need to prepare our young people to be ready for it. And young people, please make use of it.”
It’s been over a year since the Ministry of Education kicked off its More campaign, urging everyone to go the extra mile to make education in Belize truly shine. Schools are being challenged to be more creative, digital, inclusive, healthy, and involved. Just this week, Minister of Education Francis Fonseca gave a special shoutout to Methodist Primary School in Dangriga for their amazing contributions to the More initiative. Students there have been getting creative in sewing, art, and music clubs, and they’re also making a real difference in their community through the school’s environmental club. Here’s more on their inspiring efforts.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
“ You know my friends, were here in Dangriga. Before I came over here to the library. We stopped in at Epworth Methodist Primary School to recognize them and celebrate their success. They’ve been doing a lot of good work in the community. They’re a part of our, what we call the MORE campaign, right? We launched a MORE campaign at the Ministry of Education about a year ago. And the objective of that campaign was really to inspire and encourage and really, you know, get the message out our education community more involved in the work of our communities and our nation. So we wanted, the challenge was for everyone in education to do more and be more for education in Belize. And so we’re very, very proud to go over to Epworth Methodists and to acknowledge the work that they have been doing in their community in terms of education.”
More Uspaces are on the way in 2025. These digital hubs are set to empower residents in communities with limited access to technology, helping them build their computer science skills. Just this week, the Ministry of Education and UNICEF opened two new hubs in southern Belize, with plans to launch three more by the end of February. But what impact will these centers really have in preparing visitors for the digital age? Director of Science and Technology, Namrita Balani, shares more about their ambitious goals.
Namrita Balani
Namrita Balani, Director of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education
“So what is a USpace? Does anyone know? Don’t worry, I’ll answer that for you. It’s a space for you. It’s a space for us. It’s a space for collaboration, for creativity, and community. It’s a space for you to get connected. Wireless access throughout the library. A space for you to code. Access platforms such as code.org. A space for you to lead like a girl, my personal favorite. Exposing, encouraging, and supporting girls to pursue technology. It’s a space for you to access 501 and unlock digital opportunities. A space for you to digitize and preserve our rich heritage and culture by contributing to our people’s archive. A space for you to design and program robots, coming together and building and designing robots. And competing in robotic challenges. And it’s a space for you to do more. More learning, more innovation, and more growth. USpace is about creating a future where everyone, no matter their background, has access to the tools, training, and inspiration to succeed. It’s about celebrating who we are, while building who we can become. Why is this so important? Because our community deserves a space where creativity, learning, and connection come to life. A space where students, teachers, and community members can feel inspired and supported. This is more than just a room of tools. It’s a place with heart. A place where trained staff are ready to mentor and guide. Where ideas are nurtured and where possibilities are endless.”
The USpace Hub has officially arrived in Dangriga! This exciting initiative from the Ministry of Education aims to boost computer skills and innovation. Now, Dangriga residents, especially youths, can dive into learning coding and robotics at the brand-new Ignacia Cacho Library. News Five’s Britney Gordon has all the details.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
No matter your age, everyone can learn something new. Now, students and residents of Dangriga have the chance to dive into exciting educational and technological opportunities at the USpace Hub in the Ignacia Cacho Library. Area Representative Louis Zabaneh shared more about this innovative space with us.
Louis Zabaneh
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Area Representative, Dangriga
“The Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology have been across the country, Corozal Orange Walk and now Dangriga opening up these USpaces that are very exciting with the times. So that we could provide our young people with a very special environment for which they can use technology and certainly also perhaps after school or on weekends be able to access information that they might not otherwise be able to do. So this investment from the ministry along with our partners at UNICEF is significant for our people across the country.”
Built in partnership with UNICEF, this space offers a wealth of resources for all ages. Visitors can access digital devices and develop skills in areas like robotics and coding. UNICEF Education Officer Natasha Mantock shared that these hubs are designed to spark creativity and innovation.
Natasha Mantock
Natasha Mantock, Education Officer, UNICEF
“Today, we gather to celebrate a milestone in our digital transformation agenda under the Team Connection to underscore the critical need for safe, child-friendly spaces where accesses to services and resources are needing. What fitting place but the Ignacio Library, where children of Dangriga will be safe to explore in our USpace. It is pivotal in leveraging technology to transform and accelerate learning and skill development, represents a paradigm shift of how we can merge our traditional methods with our technology for children to be safe and learn.”
Zabaneh emphasized how crucial it is to provide access to these resources, noting that many Belizeans can’t afford to pursue these skills through higher education.
Dr. Louis Zabaneh
“Dangriga is very grateful. Dangriga, Sarawee, and Hope Creek, we’re grateful for this investment because we know that there are many of our families who cannot afford to purchase this kind of technology. And now we have within the Ignacio Cacho library under the Belize National Library Service a space for them to be able to do some exciting work and fit into the fourth industrial revolution, which is all about science, technology, and innovation.”
This USpace is the fourth to be launched in Belize and the government intends to roll them out countrywide.
Dr. Louis Zabaneh
“With increased investment in more safe spaces across this country, we willcontinue to equip children with necessary skills, and for them to have a deeper appreciation and understanding of the power of education, culture, technology, and science. To empower every child with the tools and knowledge needed for them to strive in this new, rapidly evolving world. We are especially pleased to see the youth space really, really inviting our girls, UNICEF prioritizes adolescent girls and continue to support. Closing this digital divide requires global cooperation, leadership, innovation in finance and technology. Belize has taken this bold step. Belize has taken this bold step.”
USpace aims to offer training beyond the traditional classroom, giving residents the chance to learn skills they might not otherwise have access to.
Dr. Louis Zabaneh
“It’s all about exposure, right? So if we are saying that we’re taking an audacious view with respect to science, technology, and innovation, we don’t want just to be consumers, but producers going forward. Then that means that our people, especially our young people need to be able to, to adopt that culture from a very young age a culture where they become very, very comfortable with technology and in particular with the process of science and innovation.”
The USpace Hub has officially arrived in Dangriga! This exciting initiative from the Ministry of Education aims to boost computer skills and innovation. Now, Dangriga residents, especially youths, can dive into learning coding and robotics at the brand-new Ignacia Cacho Library. News Five’s Britney Gordon has all the details.
Osmond Martinez
Dr. Osmond Martinez, Area Representative, Toledo East
“I must say that one of the key points. I have captured is to unlock the digital era, you know, and to enable an environment for young people. I mean, today, no one will teach you how to send an email. No one will teach you how to navigate or to navigate through the internet. No one will even teach you how to do how to send WhatsApp messages or anything. We are expecting that the kids will be born with it. And so, we need to change that. I have visited this library about two times with today, and the first time I came it was empty. And I see a lot of kids here today, but, you know, please make use of it. You know, and you have my support and we will work together. Remember, the secret to get out of poverty is through education. And we welcome the youth peers. Lead like a girl. I have no problem with that. My mother, my wife, my daughter, you know, I’m proud of them. And so I’m so happy to see that today we are going to launch a historical moment for Punta Gorda with an impact to the Toledo district, where we will unlock the digital opportunities, and remember we are in the digital era, which means that if you are not familiar with how to navigate your digital systems, and of course, you know, we will have to compete with AI. So you have to be smarter than AI, you have to know more than AI, and if anything, just develop AI.”
In December, the Belize National Teachers Union (B.N.T.U.) voted to stage a protest this month to pressure the Briceño Administration to address the long-overdue payment of teachers’ outstanding increments. However, with January nearly over, there has been no indication of when—or if—the demonstration will occur. The government had pledged in December to settle these payments before the end of 2024. Today, B.N.T.U. President Nadia Caliz appeared on Open Your Eyes, where she provided an update on the status of the planned protest.
Nadia Caliz, President, B.N.T.U.
“Belize is used to seeing BNTU in a more confrontational approach. And we have decided to change our strategy. I want to come straight to what is on the minds of the members, the demonstration membership voted on. I made it clear to you in my interview in December that the membership voted for, and my membership needs to remember this: they voted for a demonstration in January. January first to the thirty-first is still January. And you see, the union is a very powerful organisation, and my union needs to understand that we don’t need to flex our wings and show how powerful we are. We know our strength, how capable we are, and sometimes it is good just to sit a little, watch the people as they make their move, because it is like we are playing chess right now. Then you know when you need to come in. Some people are used to this. But it is 2025. You have to know how to achieve your goals.”
Paul Lopez
“But you sat for twenty days in January.”
Nadia Caliz
“Let me tell you what we are doing. The government used what we call the Pontius Pilate approach. We also call it the hush money approach. We just can’t come out and say we are going to demonstrate against the government because the government gave the money to the management. What we need to do is ensure that teachers who are supposed to be paid are paid. So, what we are doing is from January first up to Friday was gathering data. The council met last week. They came with data, but it was not complete. So, we sent them back. They voted to go back. So, school reps are involved, some principals. So, we need the data. We need to know how many teachers and staff got their increments; some were given three months when they were owed six months. We need to have accurate data.”
Belize is facing a growing challenge as the country experiences a brain drain in its education sector. Many teachers are flocking to the U.S. for better benefits, including better pay. And now the education sector is facing a new problem. Trained teachers are leaving the profession to work at call centres. That’s right. Trained teachers now prefer to work in a cubicle rather than in a classroom, and this has caused some major concerns. BNTU President Nadia Caliz explains.
Nadia Caliz
Nadia Caliz, President, B.N.T.U.
“I don’t have concrete data, and I know that is something that I need to gather. But the data that was shared with me by MOE is that the teachers who are supposed to join the profession with the teacher training qualifications are going to the call centres, eight percent of them. You remember under Minister Faber, if you wanted to do primary education, you got a scholarship? A lot of those people did not end up in the classrooms.”
Paul Lopez
“And for the U.S., is it a trend?”
Nadia Caliz
“It is a trend, and you have a lot of them preparing to go again because they hear of the wonderful salary and the classroom size. So they want to go to greener pastures.”
According to BNTU President Nadia Caliz, increment payments are still outstanding for at least two hundred teachers. She explained that this is not entirely the government’s fault, and that most of the blame rest with school administrators and management.
Nadia Caliz, President, B.N.T.U
“We have over two hundred teachers that did not receive.”
Paul Lopez
“Was it not the government’s commitment to have all of those teachers receive their payments before Christmas?”
Nadia Caliz
“Yes, that was the government’s commitment, but there is another part to that too. Every time you say something Belize polarize everything, red and blue. Every time you are telling you are either with PUP or UDP. As the president of BNTU I will call a spade a spade and an angel an angel. The government paid what they received. What they got from the management they gave to the management. Discussing with some of the teachers they will tell you that some principals and vice principals who have responsibility over their section and appraisals did not submit their stuff to the management, therefore the management did not submit it to government for them to be paid. So, as a union we have to be fair. So when we step out our data will reflect the percentage that got affected because of administrations not carrying out their duties, management not doing their part and government not doing their part. So we did not just want to step out for the sake of stepping out, because we are BNTU and powerful and we voted in a demonstration. We have to be a responsible body, because we have to be about system change now. We want to change the system permanently and that is what my members need to understand. This is not a fight for instant gratification to get something instantly. Deh days done.”
