By Belize Live News Staff: The National Trade Union Congress of Belize (NTUCB) joined the University of Belize Faculty and Staff Union (UBFSU) in criticizing the government’s failure to restore funding to the university. The unions are demanding immediate restoration of the subvention, which was cut by 24.2% in 2020 under the previous administration.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) responded to the criticism by highlighting the $7.6 million annual subvention currently provided to the university, along with $7.5 million in scholarships and financial aid given to students annually from 2020 to 2023. However, the UBFSU has argued that student scholarships do not replace funding for the university’s operations.
The MOE also cited support for individual faculty and staff members to further their education and enhance their capacity to serve the university. However, the union maintains that this does not compensate for the reduced subvention.
In its statement, the MOE outlined a plan to increase the subvention to BZ$10 million in the 2025/26 financial year. However, the unions are pushing for immediate action.
