The government is diligently addressing the needs and concerns of educators in the British Virgin Islands through millions of dollars of investment in school infrastructural upgrades as well as policy improvements.
This is according to the Minister for Education Dr. Natalio Wheatley, who made the statement during a recent address to the territory.
The former educator said that he is one of the biggest advocates for teachers in the territory and has proven such since taking office, by pumping more than $6 million to improve the working environment of teachers.
He said, “This past Monday, I met with the executive of the Teachers Union. I expressed clearly to them and to all teachers that I am their biggest supporter and advocate. The longstanding challenges in our education system must be addressed. For those who have wrongly asserted that this is just lip service, I point to consistent efforts to address teachers’ concerns.”
“In regard to working in better conditions, we expended around 4 million dollars just after taking office on refurbishing the now L-Adorothy Turnbull building; we spent a quarter of million dollars on improving the Pasea Campus, $134,000 to repair the tent in Virgin Gorda, $1.7 million dollars to redevelop Bregado Flax, and several hundreds of thousands in school repairs and mold mitigation. These are just some examples. We have also committed to many more millions for additional school buildings on ESHS campus to take our children off of the Pasea Campus,” Dr Wheatley explained.
Request made for a salary review
The education minister also said that he has made a request to Cabinet to have teachers among those public sector workers who may be receiving a salary increase.
“Cabinet also agreed to a salary review in January of 2021. During this cabinet meeting, I asked for special consideration to be given to teachers. Cabinet also decided in 2019 to pay outstanding increments for 2016 and 2017. The first of these payments has already been made and the second was interrupted by the pandemic,” he stated.
Update on school projects across the territory
Dr. Wheatley also gave an update on a number of the school projects across the territory that are nearing completion and others which are soon set to commence.
“The Designs for the Jost Van Dyke Primary School and Eslyn Henley Richie Learning Center are completed. Next week, the ministry will hold a meeting in Jost Van Dyke on these plans, so we can seek approval from Town and Country Planning and commence the procurement process for construction. The Conceptual Designs for the New Junior School for the Elmore Stoutt High School are complete, and the next phase of the process is the procurement of a contractor for the Mechanical Electrical, Plumbing and Structural Designs,” he stated.
He added, “The Isabella Morris Primary School has been deemed structurally unsound and will be demolished, and we will then begin the process for the construction of a Junior School on the West. The construction of Bregado Flax has been completed, and a handover will be held soon.”
The minister said the Recovery & Development Agency will be leading all these projects.
He also assured teachers that more improvements will be made as his government continues to lobby for better working conditions for all teachers.