Belize has assumed the Pro Tempore Presidency of the Central American Educational and Cultural Coordination body, known as CECC/SICA, for a six-month term. This makes it the second time the country has held the position since January 2023.
The handover took place on 17 June at the 51st Ordinary Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Education and Culture in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where the Dominican Republic formally transferred the presidency to Belize.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology (MoECST), Ramon Cervantes, accepted the presidency on behalf of the Government of Belize.
Three priorities have been outlined for the term: ensuring education reaches every learner, strengthening culture as a pillar of national identity and development, and advancing digital transformation. Cervantes used the opportunity to special mention Belize’s 501 Academy initiative as a model for educational digitalisation.
As Pro Tempore President, Belize will lead the implementation of agreements adopted by the Council of Ministers and coordinate the regional agenda across member states, which rotate the presidency every six months from north to south, beginning with Belize.
The 2023 presidency, led by then-Minister of State Louis Zabaneh, focused on curriculum reform, science and technology, and greater recognition of Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities across the region. At the time, Education Minister Francis Fonseca described Belize’s unique position as a bridge between Central America and the Caribbean as central to its regional role.
