500+ Teachers Showed Up to the Ministry’s Talks on AI in Classrooms

The Ministry of Education wrapped its two-day National Edtech Summit today at the Belize City Civic Center, with day two focused on how school leaders can use emerging technology to strengthen collaboration with teachers and students. 

More than five hundred teachers attended the opening day, while day two brought the administrators to learn how technology can enhance planning, communication and decision-making within schools. 

“It’s really all about the Ministry of Education engaging with our teachers and our school leaders and education stakeholders… to really have a comprehensive, substantive discussion about the intersection of education and technology,” said Minister of Education Francis Fonseca. 

This year’s theme, “Teaching Hacks”, framed hacking as an approach built around effectiveness in time, imagination, space and curriculum.

According to Sacred Heart Junior College Assistant Dean Jeanne Link, artificial intelligence is already helping educators reduce workloads. “They can easily have the AI edit their work, so that saves a lot of time,” Link said. 

However, Stann Creek Ecumenical College Principal Ray Lawrence pointed to the need of professional development for educators. He said, “If the teachers themselves don’t know how to leverage technology, then how can they teach the students how to leverage technology?”