Education Minister hits back at graduation criticism
Education Minister Sharie deCastro has hit back at Opposition Leader Myron Walwyn after he criticised ministers for skipping House of Assembly sittings to attend school graduations, calling the narrative a political distortion of her ministerial responsibility.
Speaking in the House of Assembly, deCastro addressed what she called “another narrative that has been floating around” — the idea that she should not have attended graduation ceremonies during the recent school-leaving season.
The Education Minister’s comments came in response to a statement Walwyn made at a previous sitting, where he urged the Speaker to “put her foot down” on absentee ministers. He argued that the House of Assembly must remain a minister’s top priority.
“We had a sitting on Monday. I had a graduation in my district, Joyce Samuel Primary School, that I missed… because I had to come to the House of Assembly, which is my first call,” Walwyn said. “I served as Education Minister and I had to do the marathon graduations, but whenever the House was called, I sent the Permanent Secretary, because the Permanent Secretaries are there for that purpose.”
But deCastro defended her actions, saying she had followed proper procedures to be excused.
“Due process was followed. The Speaker of the House was written to well in advance. The requisite permission for absence from the House was sought and acknowledged. This wasn’t avoidance or disregard for the House,” she explained.
She emphasised that her attendance at graduations was not about political exposure but about honouring students’ achievements and showing the government’s support.
“Graduations are not about giving a speech. They are not political platforms. We have to remove politics out of education,” deCastro argued. “They are sacred moments in the lives of our young people. It has nothing to do with politics. It’s about our young people.”
DeCastro added that her presence was symbolic and intentional. “I believe wholeheartedly, and my mind will not change, that it is my absolute duty to be present and to be there — not to be the centre of attention… It’s about letting those students know that your government sees you, that your leaders believe in you, and that we will walk with you every step of the way.”
“I will continue to ensure that I show up for the students when they are engaging in this rite of passage out of the education system,” she added. “Because they matter and I see them.”
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The education system in the BVI is a mess with this young lady and her side kick in charge of it. There appears to be no structure or real plans for improving this sector and there is this robotics obsession when students cannot pass simple maths and English. When the people who work with you and for you have nothing good to say about you that is a red flag. They cannot wait to see you go so that education could once again have the chance to thrive. We definitely sent a child to do an adult’s job. It is well circulated that the atmosphere in the ministry of education is toxic because of her and her side kick.
You are so on point here. I recently spoke with 3 young ladies from the Ministry of Education that lamented their frustrations about working with that bu**y minister and her sidekick CEO. They all said that they are counting down their days to retirement. Relatively speaking these are young people that can give so much more but they are simply tired of the bullying and disrespect. Smh!
young people counting to retirement? thats some long counting cuz i confused.
but i agree this minister a f**g
So the minister only wants to support students at graduation. She hardly visits any school during the year. Who is she trying to fool??? Show up at assemblies and other activities. Drop in to interact with those same students you want to support during graduation…. Have a heart to heart talk with teachers. The minister just shows up to be in everybody’s pictures.
She and the CEO promoted family and friends but now others who are applying have to jump through hoops. Anyhow, nothing last forever, including positions and titles.
The minister and CEO are not positively impacting the morale of educators. They need to do better. Again, visit during the school year to show that the government cares, not only during graduations.
This minister is about show and tell and photo ops. She is a selfish, self centered, little weasel. Graduation for her is about photo ops. That’s all. You were elected to the Legislature not to graduations. Her permanent secretary cannot speak for 3 mins and hand out a trophy to some students? Give me a break.
Is there a permanent secretary?
Imagine this minister showed up at the ESHS a few months ago to have a photo op with a former student who was making a small donation to the music department; but is yet to meet with some of her all-important boards and councils within the ministry. Talk about misplaced priorities. It’s all about the photo op for her! The arrogance of this child-minister is beyond my realm of thinking! Come on BVI we must do better. This is not childsplay! The best of her is writing long rambling poems and telling the world that she is the first alumna of HLSCC to become an education minister; while she moves full steam ahead with her robotics fascinations. Her playbook is so scripted its almost unbelievable! In the meantime our education system remains broken in so many parts with no proper structure nor focus. I cry for my BVI!
Robotics isn’t a gimmick. It’s a gateway to critical thinking, creativity, and global competitiveness. Dismissing it as a distraction or fascination misses the point entirely. It doesn’t replace math and English. It reinforces them. Robotics brings learning to life, builds problem-solving skills, and prepares students for real-world challenges. While some may question the leadership behind its rollout, the value of the program itself is undeniable. We must separate personalities from progress and focus on what truly benefits our students. If we want our children to be creators, not just consumers, we must invest in the tools that shape tomorrow. That means integrating robotics into the curriculum, supporting teachers, and rallying public understanding. The future won’t wait. Let’s stop mocking progress and start building it.
Ah tek ah pikcha, click, handing the trophy.
Ah tek ah pikcha, click, so everyone can see me.
Madam Minister, with all due respect, you’re dead wrong on this one. As noble and lofty as your justification may sound, the reality is this: it is far easier to find someone to represent you at a graduation ceremony than it is to find a worthy substitute in the House of Assembly. You were not absent to honour students—you were absent to avoid parliamentary scrutiny. That’s not leadership; that’s evasion. Yes, graduations are meaningful. But so is governance. The House of Assembly is where the real work of accountability and national progress takes place. If your presence at a school event is symbolic, then so too is your absence from the chamber—symbolic of misplaced priorities. The students you claim to support deserve more than applause and photo ops. They deserve a functioning government that shows up when it matters most.
You maybe be right this time but you and Duck-ta Dawson and The other VIP members need to paddle your slow behinds to parliament early and stop disrespecting the people of the VI in a smart manner.
Where did these new criteria for being a principal come from, after friends and family were promoted ? What is the CEO and the minister really doing? Can they do the things that they’re asking the teachers to do in terms of writing? Why are they taking teachers through this?This place has too many wicked people.