Government proposes major overhaul of the technical and vocational education sector

Belize’s technical and vocational education and training sector is set for a major overhaul under proposed legislation introduced in the House of Representatives today.  Minister of Education Francis Fonseca introduced the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Bill, 2026, which seeks to replace the outdated framework governing the sector with a modern national system aligned with Belize’s workforce and development needs.  Fonseca told the House that the existing legislation no longer reflects the realities of the labour market or the growing demand for skilled workers. He said the new bill is intended to give the TVET sector the legal authority, structure and oversight needed to operate effectively.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “This is really the first dedicated TVET law that we have had. And so the bill creates a standalone modern framework for technical and vocational education and training and it is companion legislation to the next bill that I will be introducing, which is the Education Bill 2026. The TVET Bill sets up an autonomous industry-led national training authority. So it will set up a 13-member board which brings together government, private sector, public and private providers, the National Accreditation Council, the National Trade Union Congress of Belize, organized labor, and of course the Ministry of Education. So industry, very critical point that industry will steer and help steer the system that trains its workforce. We will also ensure under the bill that the training follows demand, not supply. Training follows demand. So we’ve set up a sector skills council for the main economic sectors so that we can identify the skills needed and develop industry-agreed occupational standards which will be reviewed every five years. The bill also provides for qualifications that will travel. So the national vocational qualification framework, the Caribbean Vocational Qualification provide Belizean workers with portable regionally recognized certification under the CARICOM single market and economy. And the reality is, Mr. Speaker, that the economy is demanding this TVET bill. You know workers with only primary education fell from some 83,000 in 2019 to 56,000 in 2024 while tertiary educated workers are on the rise, which is a good thing, we should celebrate that. But the labor market is then affected by that shift. And so we note that the labor market itself is shifting towards certified skills.”

A central feature of the bill is the establishment of an autonomous National Training Authority. That body would be responsible for planning, directing, regulating and overseeing Belize’s TVET system.  The proposed legislation would also introduce the registration and accreditation of TVET providers and assessment centres, along with certification requirements for trainers, assessors and verifiers. It would further provide for the development of national qualifications, curricula and consistent standards across the sector.  Fonseca said the legislation was developed following consultations with stakeholders, who helped identify weaknesses in the existing system and the reforms needed to strengthen skills training.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “There will be an orderly transition. The ITVETs as we know them now, the center for employment in Cayo, their training will continue operating with three years to meet registration and accreditation requirements. So existing programs, certificates, contracts everything remains valid. No trainee, no trainer, no institution will be displaced by anything in this bill. I want to make the point that consultation was very important and so this bill was created with the Prime Minister mentioned it the technical assistance from the education project under the Millennium Challenge Corporation and through extensive consultations with employers, with private sector representatives, public and private TVET providers, trade unions, the National Accreditation Council, other line ministries and development partners. So the bill’s governance ensures that this partnership will continue giving industry, labour and providers a lasting role in shaping the TVET system.”

The bill also proposes the creation of sector skills councils to ensure training programmes are informed by the needs of employers and developments within local, regional and international labour markets.  It would additionally establish a dedicated fund to support the sustainable financing of TVET programmes. The overall objective is to expand equitable access to quality, demand-driven training while building a more competitive and properly certified workforce.