Elmore Stoutt High School Teachers On “Sit-In” Protest Over Poor Working Conditions

– It’s Day 5 of the 2023-2024 School Year

More than fifty teachers at the Elmore Stoutt High School in Road Town, Tortola have staged a Sit-In” protest over poor working conditions.

The September 15 protest involved educators from multiple departments leaving their classrooms at 1:00 p.m. and converging under the “Big Tent” in the area of the L. Adorothy Turnbull Building.

Several frustrated teachers contacted JTV to explain why they have decided to stage a “Sit-In” on the fifth official day of school.

“This is a sit-in because it’s not a case where we don’t want to work, it’s a situation that we need to be able to work in comfortable circumstances. We have many many many issues. This is serious,” one teacher shared.

The group said while there are several pressing issues, one that really angers them is teachers and students having to walk through “waist-high grass” to access the technical department.

Additionally, classrooms are very hot because the air-conditioning units badly need repairs.

The teachers are currently in talks with Premier and Finance Minister Natalio Wheatley.

There are more than 150 educators teaching 1,400 students at the Elmore Stoutt High School, the territory’s main secondary institution.