Florida State University's Learning Systems Institute (LSI) is partnering with School-to-School International on a five-year, $21.7 million project to strengthen secondary education in Belize, with $1.6 million allocated to FSU.
The Equipping Secondary Educators Program Partnership (ESEPP) is the largest investment under the Belize Compact's Education Project and will bring together Belizean and U.S. expertise to improve school leadership, teacher development and educational outcomes nationwide.
LSI will provide technical expertise and support to strengthen educational quality assurance systems in Belize and improve teaching quality, teacher preparation and school leadership. These efforts will build the capacity of educators and institutions to improve teaching and learning outcomes for Belizean students.
"We are extremely excited to begin work on this five-year program to strengthen every level of Belize's secondary education ecosystem," LSI Director Rabieh Razzouk said. "LSI has tremendous experience in teaching through capacity building, working in the secondary education space and working internationally. We also have a wonderful working relationship with School-to-School International and have previously collaborated on two successful multimillion-dollar projects in Malawi and Zambia."
ESEPP will support the Belize Compact's goal of increasing the number of students who graduate from post-primary education with skills that meet workforce needs. Working closely with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology and other stakeholders, the partnership will strengthen Belize's existing education institutions and systems.
The program will focus on four key areas: school leadership, professional development for secondary teachers, teacher preparation and improved teaching and learning materials.
"We are honored to partner with School-to-School International, the MoECST and Belizean institutions on this important initiative," said Ana Marty, a senior research associate at LSI who will serve as the principal investigator on the project. "Through the ESEPP project, FSU will support efforts to strengthen teacher preparation, professional development, school leadership, and instructional quality so more Belizean students graduate with the knowledge and skills they need for future success. We are especially excited to work alongside local educators to build sustainable systems that will continue to benefit schools and learners long after the project concludes."
The Education Project aims to improve learning outcomes and workforce readiness by strengthening secondary education and Belize's technical and vocational education and training systems. The goal is to equip more young Belizeans with the literacy, numeracy, technical and other skills needed to succeed in further education, training and the workforce.
The governments of Belize and the United States, through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), officially launched the compact in September. The compact includes a $125 million grant from the U.S. government and nearly $55 million from the government of Belize to strengthen workforce preparation and reduce electricity costs.
"For our young Belizean, then this must mean a clear path from the classroom to qualifications and from qualifications to meaningful employment," said Prime Minister of Belize John Briceno. "For too long, we hear that we are graduating so many kids from high school, but when they leave high school, it's difficult for them to get a meaningful job. You know, in many instances, they end up working in a store, and by us being able to align the educational system better with the needs of the economy, I think that we're not only planning for the future, but we are creating better opportunities for young Belizeans."
Melba Marin-Velasquez, an assistant in research at LSI, will serve as co-principal investigator on the project. Stephanie Zuilkowski, associate director for research at LSI and a professor in the Anne Spencer Daves College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, will also serve as a key member of the technical team.
