One of the central objectives of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology has been the comprehensive revamping of the National Curriculum to align with contemporary demands. The Ministry, in close collaboration with partners such as the Belize National Teachers’ Union and Managing Authorities, UNICEF, Pathlight Belize and the Love Foundation, embarked on this vital reform process through direct consultations held with teachers, students, parents and other civil society groups such as the Opposition Party and the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

This transformation led to a significant streamlining of learning outcomes and the customisation of these outcomes to better address our nation’s specific priorities and requirements. Additionally, the initiative has aimed to ensure that the newly established learning objectives are more pertinent and aligned with the evolving needs of our nation.

In an effort to curtail the almost unavoidable loss in learning brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry sought to reduce the number of subjects being taught in the curriculum for the 2021/22 academic year. The Ministry focused on the basics: Mathematics and English. In the following academic year, the National Competency-based Curriculum was developed and piloted. In the 2023/24 academic year, the National Competency-based Curriculum was in its first year of implementation for primary levels with the piloting phase beginning for secondary levels. To date, piloting continues for lower secondary levels with implementation expected to commence in the 2024/25 academic year.

Unit Plans for each teaching cycle have been developed to provide primary teachers with a practical, competency-based instructional guide. They are available to all primary school teachers via www.501academy.com and the Learning Institute.

The Preschool Competency-Based Curriculum Framework was launched on May 5, 2024, and work has begun with tertiary institutions for their inclusion and support with the delivery of competency-based education.