Belize's Higher Education Options

Belize is home to several colleges and universities, with a range of programs and degrees on offer. While the exact number of colleges is unclear, there are at least 13 colleges and universities in Belize, including junior colleges, community colleges, and tertiary institutions. The University of Belize, established in 2000, is the national university and offers a wide range of programs across multiple campuses. Alongside this, there are other well-known colleges and universities, such as Galen University, St. John's College, and the University of the West Indies. With a strong educational system rooted in both English and US academic traditions, Belize provides a variety of options for students seeking higher education.

University of Belize

The University of Belize (UB) is the national university of Belize and was established in 2000. It is an English-speaking multi-locational institute for higher education, with campuses in Belmopan City and Belize City. UB was formed from the merger of five tertiary institutions: the University College of Belize, the Belize Technical College, the Belize Teachers' Training College, the Bliss School of Nursing, and the Belize School of Agriculture. UB offers a range of programs, including certificates, diplomas, associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, and graduate degrees. The university has approximately 6,858 students enrolled in 50+ programs across various faculties, including Management and Social Sciences, Science and Technology, Agriculture, and Education.

UB's Central Campus in Belmopan City houses most programs and administrative offices, as well as the Information Technology Department, science labs, and the Regional Language Center. The Regional Language Center is dedicated to fostering global integration and collaboration by breaking down language barriers. UB also has a presence in Belize City, with campuses dedicated to Management and Social Sciences, Education and Arts, and Science and Technology. Additionally, the university maintains an Agriculture Campus at Central Farm in Cayo and collaborates with San Pedro Junior College to offer a B.Sc. in Tourism Management.

The University of Belize aims to provide affordable and accessible educational opportunities that address national needs and contribute to the country's development. The university values academic freedom, equity, transparency, merit, and accountability. UB's colours are purple and gold, and its mascot is the "Black Jaguar," reflecting its commitment to empowering the nation through education.

The university offers a diverse range of programs, allowing students to specialise in their chosen careers. With its multiple campuses and varied offerings, UB plays a crucial role in shaping the educational landscape of Belize.

University of the West Indies

Belize is home to several colleges and universities, including the University of the West Indies (UWI). The UWI is a public university system established in 1948 to serve the higher education needs of the residents of 18 English-speaking countries and territories in the Caribbean, including Belize. With a foundation year of 1948, the UWI was designed to serve an archipelago of 14 countries spread across 3,000 km in the West Indies.

The UWI has four major university centres: UWI Cave Hill in Barbados, UWI St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, UWI Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda, and the regional UWI Open Campus, which has a presence in Belize. The UWI Open Campus offers a range of educational programmes and services, including public service, outreach activities, research, and continuing education. It has a unique approach to enhancing the student experience through innovative continuing and professional education, as well as undergraduate and postgraduate study programmes. The Open Campus also offers a three-tiered registration structure that allows students to move and transfer within the University system to reach their desired standard.

The UWI has produced notable alumni who have excelled in various fields, including arts and sciences, business, politics, and sports. Some notable UWI graduates from Belize include Dean Barrow, former Prime Minister of Belize, and Hugh Wooding, who served as Chancellor of the University from 1971 to 1974.

The University of the West Indies is committed to serving the educational needs of Belize and the wider Caribbean region, providing opportunities for higher education, research, and innovation. With its presence in Belize, the UWI Open Campus plays a vital role in contributing to the country's educational landscape and helping to unlock the potential for economic and cultural growth in the region.

Junior colleges

There are several junior colleges in Belize, including:

• St. John's Junior Coed College, Belize City
• Corozal Junior College, Corozal
• Muffles College, Orange Walk Town
• Belize Adventist Junior College, Calcutta Village, Corozal District
• Centro Escolar Mexico Junior College, San Roman Village, Corozal District
• Sacred Heart Junior College, Cayo District
• Wesley Junior College, Belize City
• San Pedro Junior College, San Pedro
• Independence Junior College, Independence Village, Stann Creek District
• John Paul II Junior College
• Stann Creek Ecumenical Junior College
• Galen University, Central Farm, George Price Highway, Cayo District

Community colleges

There are several community colleges in Belize, which are usually higher-level institutions attached to existing secondary schools (high schools). These colleges may have secondary school programs but also offer tertiary, post-high school programs. Most are patterned after the “sixth form” in Britain. They offer associate or two-year college degrees.

Corozal Community College is located in the north of the country, in the town of Corozal. It is one of the colleges that offer evening and extension programs directed primarily at adults.

Muffles Community College is also in the north of Belize, in Orange Walk Town.

Belize City is home to St. John's Junior College, a co-ed institution that has educated many of the country's leaders. The city also boasts Wesley Junior College.

In the west of Belize is Sacred Heart Junior College, and in the south, there is Toledo Community College.

These community colleges offer two-year post-high school programs or Associate's Degrees, and most are attached to a high school.

Primary education

The education system in Belize is rooted in the English system but has been influenced by the US academic syllabus, particularly through the Jesuits. The Catholic Church operates most of Belize's premier public schools under a Church-State partnership. In 2014, there were around 63,000 students enrolled in primary schools. Only about 70% of teachers are professionally trained, but this number is growing, with recent amendments to the Education Act 2017 aiming for 100% of teachers to be professionally trained as a requirement to obtain a teacher's license.

The Belizean school system is a loose aggregate of education subsystems. In the latter half of the 1980s, religious denominations controlled the majority of primary schools. The government or private, community-based boards of governors administered more than 50% of secondary institutions. The government directly manages nine schools, all of which offer a curriculum oriented towards technical-vocational subjects.

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