BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Feb. 24, 2022– Belizean youths between the ages of 14 and 29 years old will have an opportunity to participate in a course through which they can earn a Google Certificate in Data Analytics. The course is part of an initiative being carried out by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science, and Technology (MoECST) in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and Google.

The Google Certificate Program requires no previous knowledge in the field, and through the program participants will be able to acquire skills that are in high demand, which is expected to gain them access to remote job opportunities with high entry-level salaries at international companies. The program involves 10 hours of study per week and will be carried out entirely through remote learning. Participants will also be receiving individual life skills coaching.

The Minister of Education, Culture, Science and Technology. Hon. Francis Fonseca, is encouraging young women to participate in the program in order to close the gender gap.
“While the course is open for all youth, we, in particular, encourage young women to apply to help close the world’s gender gap in STEM fields,” he said.

“Building digital skills is at the center of the IDB’s Vision 2025 for the full recovery of the Latin American and Caribbean region, and as such, this opportunity directly benefits the youth population that has been affected by the pandemic, providing access to knowledge that is in demand by the digital labor market,” noted Country Representative for the IDB, Ramiro Lopez Ghio.

Established in 1959, the IDB is devoted to improving lives and is a leading source of long-term financing for economic, social, and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

For interested participants under the age of 18, parents must fill out a questionnaire and provide their consent.