World Bank Project to Bring 60 New Preschool Classrooms to Belize

Sixty newly built classrooms is one of several benefits Belize stands to gain from a newly approved initiative by the World Bank aimed at expanding early childhood education and increasing women’s access to jobs.  The Belize Early Childhood Development and Female Empowerment Project, backed by a US$23.5 million credit from the International Development Association and an additional US$1.28 million grant, is expected to significantly improve access to preschool education across underserved communities. Currently, only 39 percent of Belizean children between the ages of three and four are enrolled in preschool, with limited childcare options available, just 24 registered daycare centers nationwide, most of which are located in urban areas. This gap has had a direct impact on women’s ability to participate in the workforce, with female labor force participation at 43.6 percent, below the regional average.  The project will see the construction of sixty new preschool classrooms in high-demand areas, along with upgrades to thirty existing preschools to enhance learning environments. In addition, some eighty early childhood development centers will be established or improved to provide services for children up to age four.  Officials say the initiative is expected to not only boost early education outcomes, but also reduce childcare constraints, allowing more women to seek employment while contributing to the country’s long-term economic growth.