NON-STATE ACTORS IN EDUCATION
2.2 Non-state education provision
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
- Early childhood care and education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Primary and secondary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Tertiary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
3.3 Supplementary private tutoring
The education system is governed by the 2010 Education and Training Act (as amended in 2011) that covers all educational levels from pre-primary to tertiary education. The Education and Training Act defines a “private school” as a school licensed to operate in Belize by the Ministry, which is not in receipt of grant-in-aid from the Government. A “government-aided school” is defined as a school in receipt of grant-in-aid from the Government in accordance with the Rules made under the 2010 Education and Training Act. Finally, a “community school” is defined as a school or institution not owned by a specific person, organization or group of organizations, which is managed by a Board of Management composed mainly of representatives of parents, school staff and local community organizations.
2.1 State education provision
State schools
In Belize, most schools at primary (eight years, beginning at age five) and secondary (four years, beginning at age 12) education levels are funded by the state. Public educational institutions directly financed and managed by the government represent 20% of total institutions, while most education is provided by government-aided schools through the church-government partnership. Education is compulsory for children aged 5-14 years. Government and government-aided primary and secondary schools are tuition free. However, they are allowed to charge special fees with the approval of the Chief Education Officer.
Non-state managed, state schools
No information was found.
Non-state funded, state schools
No information was found.
2.2 Non-state education provision
Independent, non-state schools
Private schools are owned and funded by individual persons, denominations or private groups. A few of these schools are specially-assisted, which means they receive small grants from the government. These types of schools offer a different programme and curriculum than state schools. In 2019, private schools represented 18% of all educational institutions in Belize,16% in primary and 25% in secondary.
State-funded (government-aided), non-state schools
Most schools in Belize are government-aided schools, which include denominational schools and community schools (62%). According to the Ministry of Education, government-aided schools are schools owned by a religious denomination or community group that receive funding from the government through school service grants or direct payment of teachers’ salaries. These schools are considered government schools in the national statistics and must follow government guidelines. According to the 2010 Education and Training Act, government-aided schools must follow government standards but may, with state approval, include additional learning standards.
Denominational schools are schools owned and managed by specific denominational groups. Belize has a strong Church-State Partnership and most of the schools are operated by the church. The leading partner is the Roman-Catholic church. However, some denominational groups such as the Mennonites, have educational agreements with the state, which grant them academic freedom to determine their curricula and learning standards.
The budget is distributed among both public and private subsidized schools at all levels. In 2013 most primary and secondary schools (82 %) were privately operated.
Contracted, non-state schools
No information was found.
2.3 Other types of schools
Homeschooling
According to the 2010 Education and Training Act, every parent or tutor is required to enrol a child of compulsory education age in an educational institution. Homeschooling is legal under §60.1 of the Education & Training Act, which states that: Children must receive “suitable education either by regular attendance at school or otherwise", the latter of which includes homeschooling. However, homeschooling is uncommon. The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture established homeschool protocols and a series of applications forms in August 2020 after an increase in homeschooling during COVID-19. One of the requirements to be considered eligible to homeschool is for the parent to have academic qualifications equivalent to an associate degree.
Market contracted (Voucher schools)
No information was found.
Unregistered/Unrecognised schools
No information was found.
Community schools
According to the 2010 Education and Training Act, a “community school” is a school or institution not owned by a specific person, organization, or group of organizations, which is managed by a Board of Management composed of representatives of parents, school staff and local community organizations. Based on the list published by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Technology, 18 community schools were operating in the year 2017/18 at primary and secondary education levels.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology, headed by the Minister of Education and the Minister of State, is responsible for the governance of all public, government-assisted, non-state and private educational institutions at all education levels in Belize, from early childhood to tertiary level.
According to the 2010 Education and Training Act, District Education Councils assist the Ministry in planning, managing and monitoring the delivery of educational services in each district in Belize. The Chief Education Officer (a public officer appointed by the Public Services Commission) is responsible for appraising the Minister, the National Council for Education and the National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training. The National Council for Education is a partnership between the State and other education partners, such as churches, communities, and voluntary organizations.
The Belize Teaching Service Commission enforces standards set by the Ministry for the quality assurance of the teaching profession, including teaching service regulations related to employment, appointment, transfer, discipline and termination in government and government-aided education institutions.
Vision: The 2017-30 Children's Agenda and 2017-21 Early Childhood Development Plan include non-government agencies and multi-sectoral partnerships as part of the early childhood education policy objectives. The provision of education in Belize is based on a strong church-government partnership. According to the 2010 Education and Training Act, “the Ministry...shall work in partnership, consultation and cooperation with churches, communities, voluntary and private organizations, and such other organizations and bodies which the Ministry may identify and recognize as education partners for the sufficient and efficient provision of education in Belize" (Article 3). Four types of educational institutions may operate in Belize: government, government-aided, private and community schools.
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
Most early childhood care and education (ECCE) is delivered by non-state actors, primarily government-aided schools, including community and denominational early childhood development (ECD) centres. While pre-primary education (covering ages 3 to 5) is governed by the 2010 Education and Training Act, day-care centres (covering ages 0-5 years) are under the 2003 Social Service Agencies (Operators of Day Care Facilities) (Registration Licensing and Minimum Operating Requirements) Regulations.
While there is currently no dedicated education law governing early childhood education, the 2017-21 Early Childhood Development Plan aims to develop the Early Childhood Act.
Registration and approval: Every day-care centre and preschool must apply for a license to operate in accordance with the 2003 Social Service Agencies (Operators of Day Care Facilities) (Registration Licensing and Minimum Operating Requirements) Regulations. All providers, including individuals, legal persons, corporations, or partnerships, must include the required documentation in their application and comply with the minimum infrastructure requirements. Enrolment capacity will be determined based on the infrastructure and staff-child ratio. All applications must be accompanies by the prescribed fee. For more information, see Multi-level regulations.
Licence: Licenses are categorized on the basis of the staff-child ratio and structural facilities. Upon approval, providers are issued a license for two years, subject to renewal. When a day-care centre fails to meet all the requirements, a temporary permit is issued for three years, giving providers the time to meet the minimum standards.
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies: See Multi-level regulations for pre-primary education.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: No information was found.
Teaching profession: According to the 2003 Social Service Agencies (Operators of Day Care Facilities) (Registration Licensing and Minimum Operating Requirements) Regulations, all day-care centre staff must be employed under the Labor Act.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: Every ECD facility is required to establish individual general operating policies, which must include the criteria for admission of children in the day care facility.
Policies for vulnerable groups: No information was found.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Reporting requirements: Every daycare service provider must keep records, registers and other documentation required by the educational authority.
Inspection: Certain authorized government staff are responsible for inspecting the premises of non-state day-care facilities in order to determine that legal standards are being met.
Child assessment: The development of students is assessed through teacher observations.
Sanctions: Any ECD centre that operates without authorization is liable to a monetary fine or imprisonment. Authorized ECD centres which fail to comply with the 2003 Social Service Agencies (Operators of Day Care Facilities) (Registration Licensing and Minimum Operating Requirements) Regulations or any other relevant regulation may be suspended or closed.
Registration and approval: See Multi-level regulations.
Licence: No information was found.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH): All educational institutions must comply with the health regulations established by the Chief Education Officer and the Director of Health Services.
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies: See Multi-level regulations.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: See Multi-level regulations.
Textbooks and learning materials: Government-aided schools are required to use textbooks and educational material that have been approved by the government.
Teaching profession: Government-aided schools are required to hire teachers who are licensed in teaching at the primary level. Teachers at the secondary level are required, as a minimum, to have a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education or a bachelor's degree in a subject area with a Diploma in Secondary Education. Private schools must ensure that all their teaching staff comply with the professional qualifications established for public schools. According to the 2010 Education and Training Act, all teachers must enter into a contract agreement with their respective Managing Authority. Detailed provisions for employment contracts are provided in Rule 70 (Article 70). Moreover, according to the 2012 Education Amendment Rules, teachers of government and government-aided schools must be paid as public officers in accordance with their academic and professional qualifications (Rule 22).
Corporal punishment: Every school authority must protect their students from physical, sexual, or other forms of harassment, including corporal punishment. As of 2010, corporal punishment has been prohibited under the Education Act (Article 51).
Other safety measures and COVID-19: During school closures, learning continuity was provided through TV and radio programs, in addition to printed material and psychosocial support.
Fee-setting: See Multi-level regulations.
Admission selection and processes: No person shall be refused admission to any school on account of religion, race, ethnicity, language or political affiliation. Discrimination by sex in the admissions process is only permitted in historically single-sex schools.
Policies for vulnerable groups: No information was found.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
School board: See Multi-level regulations.
Reporting requirements: See Multi-level regulations.
School inspection: See Multi-level regulations.
Student assessment: Most students at the secondary level take the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examinations (CSEC) upon the completion of secondary education. The CSEC exams are not mandatory.
Diplomas and degrees: See Multi-level regulations.
Sanctions: See Multi-level regulations.
Tertiary education is covered in Article 34 of the 2010 Education and Training Act.
Registration and approval: See Multi-level regulations.
Licence: See Multi-level regulations.
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies: See Multi-level regulations.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: See Multi-level regulations.
Teaching profession: There are no licencing requirements for teaching at the tertiary level.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: A secondary school diploma is required for entry into tertiary level programs. Alternative criteria such as learning assessments or placement examinations may also be required.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Board: See Multi-level regulations.
Reporting requirements: No information was found.
Inspection: See Multi-level regulations.
Assessment: There are no mandatory national assessments at the tertiary level. However, nursing students must sit for a regional nursing exam in order to become certified. Some students also take the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams (CAPE), with the top-performing student being awarded the Belize Scholarship for further study.
Diplomas and degrees: See Multi-level regulations.
Sanctions: See Multi-level regulations.
3.2 Multi-level regulations
This section covers regulations on the establishment, operation, and quality of non-state education institutions from pre-primary to tertiary education level. Both state and non-state establishments at these education levels are governed by the 2010 Education and Training Act, 2003 Education Rules, and 2012 Education (Amendment) Rules.
Registration and approval: According to the 2010 Education and Training Act, any provider (person or body of persons) who intends to operate an education institution from pre-primary to tertiary level tertiary must apply for an operating license from the Chief Officer of Education.
Licence: Upon application and if the minimum standards are met, providers are issued a license under the 2010 Education and Training Act.
Taxes and subsidies: Most education in Belize is subsidized by the state, with government-aided institutions being non-profit institutions. According to the 2010 Education and Training Act, grant-in-aid is conditional on the employment of licensed teachers and compliance with the Education Act.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: Government-aided schools are required to follow the national curriculum and guidelines prescribed by the Ministry. These schools can only include new study areas upon prior government approval. Private schools can follow their own curriculum and learning standards.
Fees: According to the 2010 Education and Training Act, citizens and permanent residents of Belize can attend government-aided schools without paying tuition fees. Special fees may be levied by government-aided schools at secondary and post-secondary level with the approval of the Chief Education Officer.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Board: According to the 2010 Education and Training Act, education providers are required to appoint a manager, board of management, board of governors or board of trustees to be the Managing Authority for each institution. The managing bodies are responsible for appointing teachers and ensuring schools comply with the regulations.
Reporting requirements: According to the 2010 Education and Training Act, all schools are required to submit an annual report to the Chief Education Officer at the end of the school year. All schools from pre-primary to tertiary level must keep records and submit returns to the Ministry in accordance with regulations made under the Act.
Inspection: The Chief of Education is responsible for inspecting schools to verify their compliance with registration requirements. School inspections must be conducted every three years at any reasonable time within school hours, allowing schools to renew their license to operate if all the standards are met.
Diplomas and degrees: The Ministry must approve all national degrees, diplomas and certificates to be awarded to students.
Sanctions: If an educational institution fails to comply with the minimum requirements or recommendations for improvement issued by the MoE, the Minister may request the suspension or revocation of the school's license or grant-in-aid.
3.3 Supplementary private tutoring
Private tutoring in Belize is often referred to as “extra class” activities. According to the 2010 Education and Training Act, teachers are required to conduct educational activities and to participate in extra-curricula educational activities in accordance with their teaching plans and school policies.
No information was found.
Financial operation and quality
No information was found.
No information was found.
