In a landmark investment to strengthen Belize’s education infrastructure, a $3.6 million project under the third funding cycle of the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF) was recently launched to transform learning spaces at three institutions across Corozal Town, San Antonio Village, and Belmopan. The initiative targets longstanding gaps in school facilities, delivering upgrades designed to create safer, more accessible, and climate-resilient environments for both students and teaching staff.
The education-focused project is backed by a $3.45 million financing package from the CDF, structured as a $3 million concessionary loan paired with a $450,000 grant. When combined with other initiatives in the current funding cycle, the CDF’s total contribution to the Government of Belize will exceed $5 million, CDF Chief Executive Officer Rodinald Soomer confirmed.
Each of the three beneficiary schools will receive customized upgrades aligned with their unique community needs. At Corozal Town’s St Francis Xavier R.C. Primary and Pre-Primary School, new classrooms, wheelchair-accessible bathroom facilities, and expanded administrative space will eliminate persistent overcrowding and resolve long-standing inadequate learning conditions. For San Antonio Government Primary and Pre-Primary Schools, the investment will deliver new primary classrooms, an open-concept pre-primary learning space, accessible sanitation infrastructure, a new administrative office, and a kitchenette tailored to support the school’s national feeding program. In Belmopan, Our Lady of Guadalupe R.C. Primary School, which has seen steady growth in its student population, will gain a new eight-classroom building complete with restrooms and administrative offices to accommodate its expanding cohort.
Beyond physical construction, the project incorporates holistic improvements to support long-term educational quality. Modern classroom furniture, updated learning resources, and information and communications technology will be integrated where feasible. The initiative also allocates resources for professional development for teachers and school staff, alongside community engagement programs designed to build local capacity for ongoing facility maintenance.
Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño emphasized that the project extends far beyond brick-and-mortar construction, aligning directly with the government’s newly launched Education Sector Plan 2026-2030. “This is not just about constructing classrooms. It’s about giving children the space to learn, teachers the environment to teach, and the families the confidence that their children have a fair opportunity to succeed,” Briceño said.
Narda Garcia, Chief Executive Officer in the Office of the Prime Minister, recalled that the CDF board prioritized these three projects when they were submitted for review in 2025, recognizing the urgent unmet infrastructure needs at each campus. “Ultimately, our goal is clear, to provide children with safe, comfortable, and accessible environments that nurture their development while also strengthening schools’ capacity to serve as community anchors during emergencies,” Garcia noted.