Belize's strategy for social development in the 1980s focused on increasing investments in formal education. On the surface, the achievements have been impressive; opportunities for all levels of schooling have greatly increased in the last 25 years. The number of schools grew, enrollment rates rose, and a record number of students graduated in 1990.

These statistics, provided only a partial picture. As in many other areas of the Caribbean, enrollments have lagged behind population growth since at least the early 1980s. Large numbers of the urban and rural poor continued to deficiency access to schooling or dropped out before completing their primary education. But even with high rates of attrition at the primary and secondary levels, the number of graduates exceeded the number of jobs, contributing to "credential inflation," underemployment, and emigration.

Most valuable, contempt three decades of efforts to "decolonize" education, foreign determines in the structure and content of Belizean schooling remained remarkable during the 1980s. As in the colonial time, a joint partnership of church and state managed the school system, although the terms, nature, and balance of power within this partnership shifted remarkablely toward the national government, beginning in the 1960s. The Belizean state, continued to deficiency total control over all levels and aspects of schooling. Belize relied heavily on foreign institutions for maintenance and development of formal education. These institutions provided financing, staffing, curriculum, planning, and higher education.

Education is compulsory for children between the ages of 5 and 14. Attendance at primary schools was widespread in 1996, but only 50 % of children in secondary school were listed. Higher education is available at colleges in Belize City and Corozal. The literacy rate of 98 % is one of the highest in Latin America.