Belize, known for its beautiful Barrier Reef, faces significant challenges in providing equitable education, especially in rural areas where resources are limited and infrastructure often falls short.¹ Although recent efforts, such as free secondary education initiatives under the Education Upliftment Project, have improved access, roughly 19% of primary school-aged students are still unable to attend school.² Economic hardships, long travel distances, and overcrowded classrooms continue to contribute to high dropout rates, particularly in underserved communities.
In the Cayo District, these challenges are especially visible. Cayo is among the fastest-growing regions in Belize, yet school capacity has not kept pace with student demand.³ Recent data show that Cayo enrolls more than 14,000 primary and 6,800 secondary students, but nearly a third of its rural schools operate with overextended class sizes and outdated facilities.⁴ Many communities around Belmopan and San Ignacio lack specialized classrooms for science, computers, and technical training—resources critical for preparing students for today’s workforce.⁵ This disparity limits student achievement and increases dropout risks, particularly for lower-income families in rural villages like Georgeville, Santa Elena, and Benque Viejo.
To help address these issues, HXP Builders will partner with Mount Carmel Primary School to construct two additional classrooms for a growing school in Benque Viejo del Carmen. The new classrooms will help alleviate overcrowding, allowing more students to enroll and benefit from a quality education. The school plans to begin using these classrooms as soon as possible, with the goal of having them ready for the 2026 academic year when students return in August. By improving the school’s facilities, this project will help create a setting that fosters effective learning and development, helping more students in Belize gain access to the transformative benefits of education.
Sources:
¹ OECD
² SIB
³ Statistical Institute of Belize
⁴ MoECST
⁵ MoECST