55 Teachers Begin Training to Support Differently-Abled Students

Access to trained teachers has been a challenge for many Belizean families with children who have disabilities or learning differences.

This week, the Ministry of Education began a new programme to train teachers in inclusive education, with support from the Inter‑American Development Bank and the Global Partnership for Education.

The programme starts with a group of 55 teachers and Special Education Officers who are taking part in a week‑long training split between the University of Belize in Belmopan and the ITVET Institute in Belize City.

Once certified, these participants will become Special and Inclusive Education Coaches, responsible for training and mentoring teachers nationwide. The coach model will give educators the knowledge to develop Individual Education Plans for students needing additional support and to create classrooms that work for children of all abilities.

Online classes and structured mentoring will follow the in-person sessions. The full programme is expected to reach 500 teachers across the country.