Education
Ministry Reports Progress in Education Reforms
The Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports has reported significant progress in school infrastructure, teacher development, student performance, and curriculum reform, according to updates shared by Hon. Sharie de Castro, Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, during a ministerial retreat on Sept. 10 and later on the Virgin Islands Voice programme.
The ministry said the initiatives were supported by an $11 million budget increase this year, which funded rehabilitation works across schools, many of which are more than four decades old. Projects completed over the summer included roof sealing, plumbing and electrical upgrades, new water storage tanks, and hurricane-proof windows. Security and recreational improvements were also made, with repairs to fencing, installation of CCTV cameras, upgraded playgrounds, and new basketball courts. The Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre, described as the first purpose-built special education school in the OECS, has already begun welcoming students.
Acting Permanent Secretary Claude Kettle said the progress reflected early access to funding and technical expertise. “We have done a lot of major rehabilitation work on schools over the summer, largely because we had the funding up front in the 2025 budget and the benefit of two engineers on our team to guide the process,” Mr. Kettle said. “I am pleased to say that we have made incredible changes at most of our schools in the Territory, with more improvements still to come as the year progresses.”
The ministry also reported improvements in teacher recruitment and retention. The “Let’s Teach VI” initiative added 12 new trainees this year and received more than 200 applications. Teacher resignations declined from 17 in 2023 to one by May 2025, which the ministry attributed to higher compensation and expanded professional development. More than 30 educators graduated from certificate programs at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, and 10 are pursuing a postgraduate diploma in arts integration with support from Unite BVI.
Student outcomes showed progress in national examinations. The Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) mathematics pass rate reached 52.61 percent, a six percent improvement over 2024 and 14 percent above the regional average. Schools have also been equipped with 60 smart boards, updated computer labs, and new furniture, with the goal of placing interactive technology in every classroom before the end of the year.
Chief Education Officer Orlandette Crabbe said the ministry has begun a comprehensive curriculum review, the first in more than a decade. “Our goal is to produce a curriculum by 2026 that integrates S.T.E.A.M., raises academic standards, and reflects the values of the Virgin Islands,” Mrs. Crabbe said. She added that the review includes classroom observations, data collection, and the relaunch of a core values curriculum beginning with respect.
Planning is also underway for a new secondary school on the eastern end of Tortola, continued legislative reviews, expanded teacher training partnerships, and the accreditation of H. Lavity Stoutt Community College to offer four-year degree programmes.
Hon. de Castro said the success of the initiatives will require broad community involvement. “We are giving more as a government to education,” she said. “We’re asking our teachers, our students, our parents, our community, and our private sector partners to give more as well. If you believe in education, then join us in this mandate.”
For more information, the ministry invited the public to contact its offices at the E.A. Creque Building, Main Street, Road Town, or call (284) 468-2151.
The Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports is observing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Week 2026 under the theme, “TVET: The Future of the VI — Together We Learn! Together We Earn!,” with Education Minister Sharie B. de Castro describing skills-based education as central to the British Virgin Islands’ economic development and workforce readiness.
The weeklong observance is intended to highlight the role of technical and vocational education in preparing students with practical skills and industry-recognized certifications in fields such as sustainable energy, cosmetology, marine technology and culinary arts.
In a statement marking the occasion, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro, Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, said TVET should be viewed as a primary pathway to success rather than an alternative to traditional academic programs.
“Technical and Vocational Education and Training is not a Plan B,” de Castro said. “It is our Plan A for a resilient, self-sufficient Virgin Islands.”
She said the territory is strengthening partnerships between schools and employers to better align classroom instruction with labor market needs.
“When we say ‘Together We Learn,’ we are talking about a new era of partnership,” de Castro said. “We are bridging the gap between the classroom and the job site.”
The minister said investment in TVET is also intended to expand economic opportunities by equipping students to enter the workforce or start their own businesses.
“By investing in TVET, we are creating a workforce that doesn’t just look for jobs, but creates them,” she said.
De Castro encouraged students to take advantage of the opportunities offered through technical and vocational programs.
“You are the architects of our future,” she said. “Your hands and your minds will build the infrastructure and industries of tomorrow.”
TVET Week 2026 includes activities aimed at promoting technical and vocational education as a key component of the territory’s long-term development strategy
The Government of the Virgin Islands has signed agreements to begin the design phase for student dormitories at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, a project aimed at expanding access to higher education for students across the territory.
The Memorandum of Understanding and Deed of Contribution, signed on Tuesday, April 14, between the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College and the Recovery and Development Agency, mark the start of work toward developing on-campus housing at the Paraquita Bay campus.
Officials said the dormitories are expected to address longstanding challenges faced by students from Anegada, Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda, who often encounter higher costs and logistical difficulties due to travel and accommodation limitations.
“For many years, students from Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, and Virgin Gorda have faced additional hurdles simply because of geography,” Premier Hon. Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley said. “With the construction of these dormitories, we will remove one of the most persistent barriers to higher education for our own people.”
The project is intended to make it easier for students throughout the Virgin Islands to pursue tertiary and post-secondary education locally, reducing the need to relocate or manage extended commutes.
Officials said the development has long been part of the college’s master plan and represents a step toward strengthening the territory’s education system.
The dormitories are also expected to accommodate students from outside the territory, supporting broader efforts to expand educational opportunities and diversify the economy.
The Recovery and Development Agency is overseeing the project, with the design phase to be followed by construction.
Zac Richards and Zendée Menal of Cedar International School and Daundre Rhodes of Bregado Flax Educational Centre were recognized by Seven Seas Water Group with the Prize for Water Science at the 2026 National Science Fair closing ceremony on March 20.
The award, presented in observance of World Water Day, highlights student research addressing water-related challenges under the theme “Innovate with Purpose, Create with Care, Solve for Tomorrow.”
Richards and Menal won the secondary division for their project, “Comparative Analysis of Water Quality in the BVI,” which examined physical and chemical parameters at three coastal locations. The study provides baseline data that can inform efforts to develop a national marine water quality framework, with implications for public health and marine ecosystems.
Rhodes received the primary division award for “Bubble Tubing: A Natural Solution to Sargassum in the Virgin Islands.” The project proposed a method to repel sargassum from desalination intake areas, aiming to reduce the effects of decomposition on water taste and odor.
On March 27, Richards and Menal visited the Paraquita Bay Water Plant, where they received their awards and toured desalination operations. Kevon Smith, the plant manager and a former National Science Fair winner, guided the students through processes including cartridge filtration, membrane technology and reverse osmosis.
Noni M. Georges, community relations advisor at Seven Seas Water BVI, said the students’ work demonstrated both scientific rigor and engagement with local challenges. “Seven Seas Water BVI is honored to celebrate and support their achievements,” she said.
Smith said the projects reflected ideas relevant to the territory’s water management. “These are not just projects — they are the kinds of ideas that can shape how we manage and protect our water resources,” he said.
Seven Seas Water Group also acknowledged the Ministry of Education, Science Fair Coordinator Renee Caines, participating students, teachers, schools and parents for organizing the event.
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