Does Robotics Have a Future in Belize?

Robots could soon become a regular sight in classrooms across Belize. A new partnership between the Ministry of E-Governance, the Belize Robotics Federation, and U.S.-based VEX Robotics aims to give students hands-on experience building and programming robots.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister John Briceño, CEO of the Ministry of E‑Governance Jose Urbina, and Belize Robotics Federation President Jamie Lee Usher came together to sign a memorandum of understanding that will expand robotics training and digital learning hubs across the country.

Speaking to students at the event, the Prime Minister reflected on how different things were when he was growing up. “When I was your age, I was excited when you could have given a leather football,” he said. “[Now] This generation are excited over pieces of building blocks and wires and circuits that you put together and can build something amazing and how the world has changed.”

He called the MOU “a contract with the future of Belize”, promising that robotics will be more than play but a pathway to jobs and innovation.

The programme will rely heavily on the country’s Digital Connect Centres, which are run by the Ministry of E-Governance. CEO Jose Urbina explained that the idea started after a robotics training session held last year in San Esteban, where the prime minister pushed for the programme to grow nationwide.

“The Prime Minister was very interested and was asking, but how can we grow this countrywide? How can we make this a national initiative?” Urbina said.

He explained that the ministry plans to roll out robotics training using 14 Digital Connect Centres across Belize, while also working with the Ministry of Education to ensure the training can eventually be recognised and accredited.

The effort also builds on support from partners like VEX Robotics, which provides both the robotics equipment and structured learning programmes used around the world.