Public schools across the territory have opened with major facility upgrades and the launch of the Eslyn Henley Richez Learning Centre, the first purpose-built special education school in the Virgin Islands.
During a live broadcast of Virgin Islands Voice – 2025 School Year on 10 Sept., streamed on the Government of the Virgin Islands’ Facebook page, Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon. Sharie B. de Castro announced the improvements, which include roof sealing, standardised windows and doors, expanded air-conditioning, new fencing, and campus lighting.
Water storage tanks, generators, and solar installations were also completed in partnership with Unite BVI to strengthen resilience against power outages.
“The Eslyn Henley Richez Learning Centre represents a milestone in how we serve our students with special needs and reaffirms our commitment to accessible education for all,” Ms. de Castro said. The facility, which welcomed students this week, is also among the first of its kind in the Eastern Caribbean.
At Elmore Stoutt High School and several primary schools, the extension of air-conditioning has already improved classroom comfort, officials reported. Basketball courts and playgrounds were resurfaced to enhance physical education and community use.
Security enhancements, including closed-circuit cameras and new perimeter lighting, were added to curb vandalism and address break-ins that have affected campuses in recent years. “These measures give us confidence that our campuses are safer for both students and staff,” Mr. Skelton-Cline said.
The ministry also issued a reopening tracker for facilities still under repair following the 2017 hurricanes. While most campuses are now fully operational, structural work continues at the Claudia Creque Educational Centre on Anegada and at selected Virgin Gorda schools.
Additional updates on school readiness and long-term repair timelines will be provided later this term, officials said.
