Posted: Tuesday, October 21, 2025. 1:58 pm CST.
The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Breaking Belize News.
By Dorian A. Barrow, Ph.D.
Florida State University
“If Belize is serious about transforming education for the 21st century, we must reimagine how we design curricula, deliver instruction, and prepare school leaders.”
Education is the backbone of national progress. Yet too many young Belizeans are slipping through the cracks of our secondary school system. Despite curriculum reforms and investment, learning gaps—especially in literacy, including financial literacy, numeracy, science, and technology—remain stubbornly wide.
The problem is not a lack of dedication among our teachers or principals. It’s that our system continues to struggle with uneven resources, outdated curricula, and weak instructional leadership.
If we want real change, we must move beyond short-term fixes and build a new kind of educational leadership—one rooted in research, cultural relevance, and community engagement.
Why So Many Students Are Falling Behind
Every year, national assessment data and CSEC results reveal persistent disparities between rural and urban schools, between boys and girls, and among students from different socio-economic backgrounds.
Many children enter high school already behind in reading and mathematics. Rural schools often face teacher shortages and high turnover rates. In addition, language remains a silent barrier—English may be the official language of instruction, but for many Belizean students, it is not their first.
When students don’t fully understand the language of instruction, learning becomes a daily uphill battle.
These challenges are made worse by limited professional development for teachers and principals. In many cases, school leaders spend more time managing timetables and discipline than leading instruction. Yet research shows that effective school leadership is second only to classroom teaching in its impact on student achievement. Principal and teachers must lead to learn.
“Principals must not only be good administrators—they must be strong curriculum and instructional leaders.”
Leadership That Makes a Difference
The future of our schools depends on how well our leaders can guide teachers, inspire innovation, and use evidence to make decisions.
Belize needs transformational leaders—principals and educators who motivate teams, create inclusive learning environments, and make data-driven choices. Leadership is not about giving orders; it’s about asking the right questions.
What are our students struggling with most?
Which teaching methods work best?
How can local culture and community knowledge make learning more meaningful?
At Galen University, the graduate course EDUC 665: Applied Research (Practicum) in the Masters Degree in Educational Leadership, was created precisely to help develop these leadership skills. It equips educators to conduct school-based research, design interventions, and lead with evidence—not assumption.
Curriculum That Reflects Belizean Realities
One of the major issues in our education system is the disconnect between what students learn and how they live. Much of our curriculum still reflects imported models, not Belizean realities.
A culturally responsive curriculum changes that. It connects classroom lessons to local history, languages, and communities. For example, environmental science lessons could explore the ecosystems of Belize’s barrier reef or pine forests. Mathematics could be taught through examples drawn from agriculture, fishing, or small business.
When students see their world in the classroom, they begin to see the classroom in their world.
“A curriculum that works in London or New York will not automatically work in Punta Gorda or Orange Walk.”
Turning Research Into Action
Better results require evidence-based action. Through action research, school leaders can test new teaching strategies, measure their impact, and make improvements.
Imagine a principal who notices that first-form students are weak in reading comprehension. Instead of assigning more homework, she conducts a small study comparing reading strategies, collects data, and uses those findings to guide teacher training.
That’s how schools become learning organizations—not just for students but for teachers, too.
Unfortunately, many Belizean schools lack the time or resources for such research. That’s why universities like Galen University and the Ministry of Education must continue supporting applied school research. When we learn from our own classrooms, we create reforms that actually work.
Investing in Leadership for the Future
Closing learning gaps is not just an educational issue—it’s an economic and social one. The global economy demands creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. Without strong leadership and modern instruction, too many of our young people will remain underprepared.
The government’s Education Sector Strategy 2026–2030 points in the right direction, emphasizing leadership development and evidence-based reform. What’s needed now is sustained investment and implementation. The new planned six STEAM Pavilions, one per district and Itz’at STEAM Academy in Belize is a good start.
Belize’s greatest resource is not oil, gold, or land—it’s its people. When we invest in our educators as leaders, researchers, and change agents, we invest in the nation’s future.
The Point
The point is simple: closing learning gaps starts with leadership that understands both the classroom and the community.
A Counterpoint
The counterpoint is that if we continue to manage schools as bureaucracies rather than as learning organizations, no new policy or curriculum will close the gaps. Leadership matters—and it’s time we treat it as the game-changer it truly is.
About the Author: Dorian Barrow is an educator, researcher, and columnist. Feel free to challenge any or all of the claims made in this piece above and let’s get the school leadership in Belize debate going.
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The post Point and Counter-Point~Closing the Learning Gaps in Belize’s Secondary Schools appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
Posted: Tuesday, October 21, 2025. 1:58 pm CST. The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not necessarily those of Breaking Belize
The post Point and Counter-Point~Closing the Learning Gaps in Belize’s Secondary Schools appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
