A Second Chance to Achieve Educational Goals
For many Belizeans, life circumstances can interrupt their education, but the Gwen Lizarraga High School Evening Division is proving that it’s never too late to return to the classroom. On today’s episode of Open Your Eyes, Director Claudette Noralez, Math Teacher Brian Plummer, and past student and valedictorian Alex Garbutt highlighted how the program is transforming lives by making secondary education accessible to adult learners.
Established in 2009, the Evening Division serves students aged 16 and older who were unable to complete high school for various reasons. The program provides a supportive environment where learners can continue their education while balancing work, family, and other responsibilities. Director Claudette Noralez emphasized that the school’s mission is to help students “unpause” their dreams and create new opportunities for themselves.
Education That Changes Lives
One of the program’s greatest success stories is Alex Garbutt, who graduated as valedictorian in 2025. After leaving high school years earlier due to financial challenges, Garbutt entered the workforce and eventually became a successful entrepreneur. Despite his accomplishments, he felt the need to complete his education—not only for personal growth but to set an example for his children and those around him.
Garbutt shared that returning to school strengthened his computer skills, improved his Spanish, and reinforced the importance of lifelong learning in today’s technology-driven world. He now encourages other adults who may have postponed their education to take advantage of the Evening Division, noting that earning a high school diploma can open doors to promotions, career advancement, and greater confidence.
Flexible Learning Designed for Working Adults
Veteran educator Brian Plummer, who has more than three decades of teaching experience, explained that adult education requires a different approach from traditional classrooms. Lessons are designed to connect with students’ real-life experiences, making subjects such as mathematics practical and relevant to everyday life.
The Evening Division operates on a blended learning model, combining three evenings of face-to-face instruction with two days of online learning. According to Plummer, this format provides flexibility for working adults while maintaining the personal interaction and support needed to improve student success and reduce dropout rates.
Affordable Education for a Brighter Future
The three-year program is intentionally designed to be accessible, with tuition set at just $350 per year. Classes are held in the evenings from 5:10 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., allowing students to continue working while pursuing their education.
Enrollment is now open throughout the month of July, with classes scheduled to begin on July 24. School officials encourage anyone who has not completed high school to seize the opportunity to invest in their future.
Located at Gwen Lizarraga High School on Antelope Street, the Evening Division continues to provide Belizeans with a pathway toward academic achievement, career advancement, and personal fulfillment—proving that it’s never too late to earn a high school diploma.
