by Kristen Ku
BELIZE CITY, Wed. May 17, 2023
Partnering with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Inter-American Development Bank, the Itz’at STEAM Academy, backed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology (MoECST), is set to usher in a new era of learning centered around Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM).
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education, shared his excitement during a tour of the Academy with the IDB president and the Prime Minister back in September, stating, “The future of education is technology, arts, engineering, STEAM and STEM subjects—critically important. Belize can’t be left behind, so this is just the beginning in terms of these projects. Our hope and our plan and our discussion with the IDB is to expand this across the country, and build six of these academies across the country so that our young people, wherever they live, can have access to STEAM education.”
Opening in September 2023 with already over 150 applicants, there is a plan in place for the academy to expand from its initial 75 first-form student limit to a robust student body of 300 by 2026.
Located on the ITVET (old Technical) compound on Freetown Road in Belize City, the school will prepare students for future careers in STEAM fields with top-tier facilities, including a modern science lab, a digital media studio, and a maker space, which is a collaborative workspace for students to make, create, explore and share projects.
Through an innovative curriculum incorporating Belizean studies, foreign languages, ethics, and systems thinking, the Itz’at STEAM Academy aims to provide a well-rounded education, equipping students with the skills to navigate the complex, tech-driven world of the 21st century.
With a curriculum and structure that are based on an experimental approach, the Academy is committed to pushing the boundaries of secondary education in Belize. And by fostering a new generation of thinkers, innovators, and leaders, the Itz’at STEAM Academy is not only preparing students for the future—it is actively shaping it.
The deadline to apply for admission ended on April 28—with applicants who will have completed primary school by 31 August 2023 and were born between August 1, 2009, and July 31, 2012, being considered eligible.
If selected, applicants will be contacted by the end of May; however, those who aren’t will be placed on a waiting list until spaces are available.
The cost of tuition is $550.00 per year.
Notably, though the school is on the ITVET grounds, it is a separate entity and is in no way connected to that institution.
Those seeking information on the academy and access to the online application can now visit their website at https://www.itzat.edu.bz/