Belize Develops Long-Term STI Strategy to Boost Global Competitiveness

With Belize looking to step up its efforts in the areas of Science, Technology and Innovation, and having already embarked on works in innovation, including policies on e-governance and digitization, the government is now developing an STI Strategy.  The STI strategy will essentially produce students with extensive knowledge in these areas to prepare them for global advancements.  According to Dr Louis Zabaneh, Minister of State for Education, Science and Technology, the STI Strategy is based on a 30-year horizon.

Dr.Louis Zabaneh, Area Rep, Dangriga: “We wish to now have a comprehensive strategy that integrates science, technology and innovation. We have a horizon of 30 years, but the first strategy will be looking at the foundational areas for the first 10 years. So science, technology and innovation are really the tools and the application of those tools for the improvement of the quality of life of our people. So for us, our vision in our administration of course, is Plan Belize that is based on principles that go back as far as the founding father, George Cadle Price. In modern terms we’re talking about sustainable human development. And that is development that is not just concerned with the present but also with future generations and it is also concerned on focusing on the welfare of individual human beings to afford them a setting where they can seek to achieve their goals and dreams.”

Dr. Zabaneh told Love News that the works began when the Briceno administration took office in 2020.  The works, so far, include curriculum reforms, competency-based learning, and STEAM education.