US and Belizean Partners Advance MCC Compact Efforts to Improve Secondary Education Quality

PRESS RELEASE

Belmopan, December 11, 2025.

The Millennium Challenge Account Belize (MCA-Belize), tasked with implementing the Belize Compact, successfully held workshops with key education sector partners on December 8-9, 2025, to begin co-designing improvements to the quality of nationwide secondary education, marking a significant milestone in the advancement of the US$125 million Belize
Compact with the U.S. Government’s Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

The sessions brought together representatives from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology (MoECST), MCC, MCABelize, four shortlisted partner institutions (RTI International, Florida State University, Partners of the Americas, and Boise State University), along with over 25 key stakeholders from across Belize’s education system.

Participants collaborated on designing the Equipping Secondary Educators Program, a US$23 million investment and one of the Compact’s key investments aimed at strengthening teacher preparation, improving professional development, and enhancing teaching and learning materials across the secondary education system. This program represents a core component of the Belize Compact’s broader objective to raise educational outcomes and improve labour-market readiness for Belizean youth.

Over the two-day Program Partnership Workshop, the partners collaborated directly with MoECST units, principals, teacher educators, universities, and national education bodies, through a series of breakout design sessions gathering expert feedback to refine proposed technical approaches and ensure alignment with Belize’s education reform priorities and secondary education needs.

The Government of Belize and MCA-Belize welcome the strong engagement demonstrated by all partners and stakeholders. The
insights generated during the co-creation sessions will directly inform the full technical and financial proposals expected later this year, contributing to the successful launch of compact implementation in 2026.

This event marks one of the first major activities undertaken following the MCC Board’s reaffirmation of the Belize Compact, demonstrating continued momentum and commitment to delivering transformative investments in Belize’s education sector.

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Marcia Mahler Bouloy
Millennium Challenge Account – Belize
marcia.bouloy@mcabelize.gov.bz
+501-609-2494