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Premier: BVI educators now among best paid in the region

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr Natalio Wheatley has announced that educators in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) now rank among the highest-paid in the region following a recent compensation review.

During his 2025 budget address, Dr Wheatley highlighted that the starting salary for qualified teachers in the BVI now stands at $55,146 per year—a figure that surpasses the starting salary in the nearby United States Virgin Islands (USVI), which stands at approximately $50,974. The difference amounts to an annual advantage of $4,172 for BVI teachers.

“This competitive salary supports our efforts to attract and retain talented educators, a critical factor in the success of our students and the system as a whole,” Dr Wheatley stated.

The adjustment follows urgent appeals in early 2023 by Minister of Education Sharie de Castro, who raised concerns about alarmingly high resignation rates among teachers.

At the time, de Castro pointed out the disparity between salaries in the BVI and neighboring regions. Entry-level teachers in the BVI earned approximately $34,600 annually, while their counterparts in the USVI and Texas earned starting salaries of $50,000 and $61,500, respectively.

“It is understandable that low compensation for teachers discourages our own from entering the profession,” de Castro said at the time, emphasising the link between competitive pay and retaining high-quality educators.

She added that low salaries had forced many teachers to take on second or third jobs, detracting from their ability to focus on teaching and shaping the territory’s future workforce.

De Castro argued that increased pay would reduce turnover, keep teachers in the classroom, and elevate the quality of education in the BVI.

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22 Comments

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  1. Little says:

    to late for many who struggled throughout their devoted and entire career.

    What would help now is a needed raise in Social Security and Pension Benefits.

    The BUSINESS PEOPLE greedy man.

    SS income and others can no longer pay for all the nesseceties..

    Like 17
    • Junie says:

      Social Security pension benefits are increased every single year.

      Like 1
      Dislike 3
      • review social security says:

        the only thing is increases is maximum insurable earnings, making it impossible every year to hit the .. social need to start getting people paid by 55 or 60 if they choose to, life isn’t that long. .and they just holding people money people paying in more than they put out that’s why they can bulk up million!! social security definitely need to be reviewed!!

  2. Lets hope... says:

    So with that figure we should be securing the best teachers for our schools from the region. NOT using this to pay inflated amounts to un-qualified or underqualified people to give our children a mediocre or in some cases BAD education. Make sure they earn their salaries please. Hold them accountable for their actions. Hold them responsible for their performance.

    Like 20
    Dislike 0
    • struppes. says:

      you really think thats money after tax social and nhi, buying own supplies and now pension. after all that deduction it is nothing to talk about. Some still leave, dealing with some of you all rude a$$ children worth way more than that! not even parents want to deal with their own children and expect miracles from teachers.

      Like 2
      Dislike 1
  3. Mad Max says:

    Maybe they are and probably already were – however when the cost of living is so high, that comparison with other Caribbean islands is almost irrelevant.

    Now produce statistics on where they sit in terms of qualifications and ability.

  4. Little says:

    Forgotten are the increments still owed to retired teachers. They are not retired teachers anymore, they are now retired cast away scrunters.

    Some is going to come out within the next three years to put an end to all this oppression of people who have already served, but still being overlooked by the Greedy Bill creators.

    Every elected official, including the Governer, should read this and hang their head in abject shame.

    God and Karma alone will speak for us now.

  5. Swat says:

    And the college proffesors are way below that amount. They will soon leave.

    Like 4
    Dislike 2
  6. Question says:

    The starting salary should mean now joining. You have now joining and teachers with 25 years of experience being paid the same salary. Is that the same way USVI is paying their teachers. I wonder????
    In fact, it seems like the raise also triggered a raise in cost of living.

    Like 6
    Dislike 3
  7. Well says:

    It is about time. They well deserve it….Bam.

    Like 5
    Dislike 1
  8. Lies says:

    I am a teacher and that is not my salary. I don’t know why they don’t stop lying!

    Like 9
    Dislike 2
  9. Sowande again. says:

    I think so too. Time they get to work, get serious, quit complaining and give us valu.

  10. @LIES says:

    We all know that LIEING is their latest profession that those wannabe politicians have adapted and mastered , just ask “wiggie” the wigged one , who has earned a degree in that artform with flying colors

    Like 1
    Dislike 2
  11. Everyone says:

    This is great news, But I think that all the civil servants need revising also because I don’t know what lickle 2c them give them, Only the higher heads are who benefitting from the raise.

  12. Open your eyes says:

    We are getting paid better? However, cost of living makes the money look like nothing. We can still hardly live here in the BVI. Food and rent are so expensive… Price control is needed, but that will never happen because politicians are too invested in the businesses in the BVI. Look at how our current Premier behaves like he does not care. Roads and infrastructure falling apart. It is sad. We have to work 25 years for a pension that is not enough to feed you when you retire but they work 8 consecutive years and gets full pension.. If I am wrong sorry but I don’t see how that is fair! They only use their platform to get votes because once they get in office that is it. PRICE CONTROL IS NEEDED. Crime on the rise.. police presence is little to none. The police don’t even know the laws of the BVI. Too many unsolved murders. We need to be careful of the message we are sending to the world as it pertains to the BVI. Awesome place but too many things need fixing.

  13. Best paid says:

    I seriously doubt $ 55k is the salary paid to all teachers in the Territory.

    Secondly, $55k/ year does not go far these days. Probably would not be able to afford a mortgage of much more than about $ 250 k at $2000/month.

    Lastly, BVI policy gives preference to Belongers meaning that one without experience is preferred one an outsider with experience. Does not seem like a good strategy if we want to improve on the sub 50% pass rate on CXC maths in the Territory.

  14. Shame!! says:

    The BVI could have had one of the best educational systems in the Caribbean but the BH mentality has brought it to were it is
    Money over quality and qualifications
    1: Mr S
    2. MA
    3. SU

    The school thrive because expatriates experienced teachers worked hand in hand with the local teachers to move the system
    Forward
    When Sc****ffe came she prejudicially thought out how to move all the expatriates Head of Department under the guise of giving teachers 5 terms senior position . Teachers saw through itn

    The the bully of all bullies Rogers came on stream and buliied expatriate parents and students including teachers.

    The school is going downhill but to be fair the elp
    factors of Covid pandemic
    and the departure of the experienced teachers
    and younger parents
    Have helped to the system where it is

  15. E. Van. says:

    I am truly happy for my compadres and all the others.

    Retired i am now, but were it not for covid and subsequent illness, i would. have finally reach that milestone i was hoping for, for years.

    Sadly, my. salaary then could not afford me a mortage or much of any thing but basics.

    However, remain thanjful that i was able to enrich many minds in the process.

  16. E. Van. says:

    To Mr. Natalio, Premier of the British Virgin Islands:

    From All Retired Teachers:

    I was forced into retirement right after the opening of the country after the covid lock down.

    Please do your best to see that the retired teachers get their back increments owed.

    I for example, are in serious need for an influx of cash due to illness, meds and long hopital stays, cost and others.

    Pleaase help us!

  17. Grace Kelly says:

    Building this tiny not too long ago haven with imported criminals and imported poverty to the extent that these are now the overwhelming inhabitants a non stop multiplying of this crippling factor is the downfall of these
    VI..daily the ðdeath of this portion of our BVI slap)s us in the face and stares with deep deep pain..no good future is inevitable..

    MONACO MODEL ..the only way!

  18. Daddy says:

    DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS.

  19. Talk truth says:

    Please help us mr minister we at the hospital are suffering I have been there for more than 10 year without a salary increase I wonder if it is because so much island people there why this is happening and even though tax , NHI AND SOCIAL SECURITY INCREASE no sign of a red scent we are a dedicated set of people ,we work very hard and take into consideration the kind of sickness we are face with please help us mr minister.

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