ORANGE WALK DISTRICT, Belize: The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB/the Bank) and the Government of Belize have marked major milestones in education development in Orange Walk District, with groundbreaking ceremonies for two new schools and the handover of a rehabilitated classroom block aimed at improving learning opportunities for rural students. 

The groundbreaking and handover ceremonies form part of a broader suite of key infrastructure achievements delivered under the CDB-supported Belize Education Sector Reform Programme II (BESRP II), which is constructing and equipping 35 school building projects across the country. 

The new Indian Church Primary School will accommodate approximately 96 students across four classrooms, with administrative and staff facilities, sanitation amenities, and supporting infrastructure. Built to modern construction standards, the facilities will incorporate hurricane-resilient features, water storage and drainage systems, and fire safety measures, representing an investment of approximately US$1.3 million (BZ$2.31 million). 

The day's activities also included the handover of a rehabilitated classroom block at Trial Farm Government School, completed at a cost of approximately US$120,000 (BZ$0.24 million), and the commencement of works on new pre-primary and primary facilities in the Blackwater area of Trial Farm Village, representing a further US$1.51 million (BZ$3.02 million) investment. Together, these projects will improve learning environments for hundreds of students and strengthen educational access across the district.

Speaking on the significance of these developments, Dr. Isaac Solomon, Vice-President (Operations), CDB, underscored the Bank's broader vision for the investment, and said, "Our commitment goes beyond building infrastructure—we are supporting a stronger and more resilient education system that equips students with the knowledge and skills they need for the future, while contributing to broader social and economic development. Indian Church Primary and the Belize Education Sector Programme as a whole, is pivotal in advancing educational excellence—an ambition that resonates deeply with my Bank's refocused vision, anchored in the pillars of Innovate, Transform, and Thrive." 

The projects reflect a shared commitment by the Government of Belize and CDB to deliver educational infrastructure that is resilient, inclusive, and responsive to community needs, helping to build human capital and create opportunities for future generations of Belizeans. 

This support for Indian Church Primary School, Blackwater Primary, Trial Farm Government School and the wider BESRP II Programme directly advances CDB's Strategic Plan 2026-2035. It contributes to the Bank's Social Resilience objective and its Investing in Youth operational priority by expanding equitable access to quality education. The support further reflects CDB's Rebirth Vision to Innovate, Transform and Thrive, as the Bank scales up investment in resilient infrastructure to safeguard learning environments across the Caribbean. 
 

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Photo caption: (L-R) Dr. Isaac Solomon, Vice President (Operations), Caribbean Development Bank and the Honourable Ramon Cervantes, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology, Belize, hand over the keys to an educator at the rehabilitated classroom block at Trial Farm Government School.