BELMOPAN, Sat. Aug. 14, 2021– A recent press release from the Government of Belize Press Office has announced that the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology (MoECST), after having received new recommendations from the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), is now advising pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools to continue operating in complete distance learning mode.

The announcement put a sudden halt on extensive preparations that were underway for a return of students to the classroom in the new academic year — but it reflects the current concerns in the community that have arisen due to the onset of a third Covid-19 wave in the country. Those concerns were outlined last week in a statement issued by the Belize Medical and Dental Association (BMDA), which urged the Education Ministry to reconsider the resumption of face-to-face learning for preschools and primary schools until the most recent surge of cases has subsided and until students aged 12-17 can be vaccinated.

The vaccination of children within this age group will soon be possible as a result of a recent donation of Pfizer vaccines to the country. A GOB release states that “Information related to the rollout of [the Pfizer] vaccine will be available shortly.”

The Ministry reminded schools in the release that a proper Learning Continuity Plan must be in place to facilitate distance learning, and it further noted that, as outlined in the school calendar for government and grant-aided schools, classes at the secondary level will start on Monday, August 23, with instruction at the pre-primary and primary school levels resuming a week later on Monday, August 30.

The Ministry also has asked schools to work alongside families to guarantee that no child is denied access to education due to the inability to pay school fees. The release says, “MoECST stands ready to support schools in all their efforts to make education work for Belize.”

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology pledged in its release that it will recommence face-to-face instruction as soon as the relevant health authorities deem it safe for the country to make that transition.