The skills Belize needs most: Why we need to promote Vo-Tech

By Zoila Palma:   There is a growing conversation in Belize about education, employment and the skills young people need to build successful careers. While university degrees remain important for many professions, there is also a constant need for people with practical, technical and vocational skills.

The World Bank has noted that shortages of skilled labour are evident in Belize and has identified workforce skills development as a priority for the country’s economic growth.

Among the skills that deserve greater attention are construction and carpentry, electrical installation, plumbing, automotive and heavy-duty mechanics, welding and metal fabrication, refrigeration and air-conditioning, nursing and healthcare support, information technology and computer repair, hospitality and culinary skills, and agriculture and agro-processing.

 These are not simply jobs that someone does while waiting for a “better” career.

They are essential services that homes, businesses, hotels, farms, factories and communities depend on every day. Our TVET system already provides training pathways in various trades, but there is a need to continue expanding access and making those opportunities more visible to young people.

The need for these skills also creates opportunities for entrepreneurship. A trained electrician can start an electrical business.

A welder can establish a welding shop.

A mechanic can open an auto-repair service.

 A carpenter can build furniture, cabinets and homes, while a refrigeration technician can provide services to households, supermarkets, restaurants and hotels. With the right training, tools, work ethic and business skills, a vocational qualification can become more than a job—it can become a source of income and employment for others.

This is why Belize needs to promote technical and vocational education and training, or TVET, much more aggressively.

For too long, young people have sometimes been given the impression that success means attending university and earning a traditional degree, while vocational careers are treated as a second option. That mindset needs to change.

An ILO analysis of Belize’s TVET system published earlier this year, emphasizes the importance of developing, recognizing and certifying skills while improving access to training and the labour market.

The question should not be whether a young person chooses university or vocational training. The better question is: What skills does Belize need, and how can we prepare our young people to fill those gaps?

There is also a strong case for connecting TVET with STEM education—science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

STEM education can help students understand that technical careers are not simply about working with their hands; they also require mathematics, science, technology, problem-solving and innovation.

Programs that connect students with real industries can help them see the practical applications of what they learn in the classroom and introduce them to careers they may not have considered.

The STEM U Foundation is creating opportunities for Belizean students to gain technical training and international exposure.

STEM U offers an industry-recognized Welding and Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) certification program in partnership with St. Ignatius High School.

The program’s curriculum is modeled on standards from the American Welding Society (AWS) and the American Society for Non-Destructive Testing (ASNT), combining structural, pipe and aluminum welding with advanced NDT methods.

Training is hosted at the STEM U Polytechnic Welding Lab on the St. Ignatius campus, giving students access to hands-on technical instruction.

The initiative is also expanding beyond a single school.

On August 11, 2026, STEM U Foundation announced a collaboration bringing Mopan Technical High School, a government school, and St. Ignatius High School, a grant-aided school, together around a shared goal of expanding access to technical education and career opportunities.

Through the collaboration, third- and fourth-form students at Mopan Technical can access Welding Technology courses and certification opportunities, including specialized Welding and NDT certification through STEM U Foundation and AWS. Such partnerships demonstrate how schools can work together to give more students access to specialized training and industry-recognized qualifications.

The STEM U initiative also extends beyond Belize’s borders.

In March 2026, students from St. Ignatius High School participating in the STEM U Global Exchange Program visited PSA Airlines in the United States. Students toured an aircraft maintenance hangar, observed airline maintenance operations and learned about the technical careers and expertise required to keep aircraft operating safely. The experience gave students an opportunity to connect classroom learning with a real-world industry and explore careers in engineering, aviation and technical fields.

STEM U has also highlighted international training exchanges and field trips as part of its efforts to expose students to global industries.

These initiatives point to what Belize could do more of: connect education directly to opportunity.

Students should be able to see a pathway from the classroom to a certification, from a certification to employment, and from employment to entrepreneurship.

Whether that pathway leads to welding, electrical work, aviation maintenance, information technology, agriculture, construction, healthcare or another technical field, young Belizeans should have opportunities to develop skills that are recognized and needed both locally and internationally.

Belize therefore needs to promote TVET, STEM education, apprenticeships and entrepreneurship at the same time.

Schools can expose students to trades and STEM careers earlier, businesses can provide apprenticeships and industry experience, and training institutions can work more closely with employers to identify the skills the economy actually needs.

The goal should not only be to prepare young Belizeans to look for jobs, but also to equip them with the skills to create businesses, provide needed services and eventually employ others.

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