Private sector should match music education funding — deCastro
Education Minister Sharie deCastro has urged the private sector to match government’s financial commitment to music education, arguing that national development requires broad community support.
Speaking at the launch of Education Month 2026, deCastro said government had already increased its overall education investment from $57 million in 2024 to $77 million in 2026, representing “35% growth in just two budget cycles”.
Within that expanded budget, she pointed to direct allocations for music education, noting that last year government invested $100,000 in music equipment and has budgeted $125,000 this year.
“What I’m saying is I would love the private sector to come forward and match government’s funding. I don’t believe that’s too much to ask,” deCastro stated.
The minister said education should not rest solely on public funding. “I fundamentally believe that education is not just the responsibility of the government. Education is the responsibility of the entire territory, and the community has a role to play in that,” she said.
The minister also pointed to renewed efforts to rebuild music programmes across public schools following hurricane damage in previous years. DeCastro noted that the former music department at Elmore Stoutt High School was destroyed, resulting in lost equipment and setbacks to instruction.
In partnership with the United Jazz Foundation, led by Virgin Islands musician Dion Parsons, the ministry has sought to reinvigorate music education through professional development for teachers, expanded access to instruments, and regional exposure for students.
“What we have seen is a reinvigoration of music education in the Virgin Islands,” deCastro said.
She added that the initiative extends beyond instruments. According to the minister, professional training and exposure opportunities help build discipline and create career pathways for students.
“So far, we’ve raised over $40,000 in funding, so we are well on our way,” she disclosed.
DeCastro maintained that the government would continue its financial commitment regardless of private contributions. “The government will not stop. We will continue to invest,” she said.
Appealing directly to businesses and residents, she stressed that contributions, whether small or large, would support children rather than officials. “If it’s $10, if it’s $100, if it’s $1,000, it will help a child. It ain’t for Sharie… It’s about the students and the children who have a dream that we must bring to reality,” deCastro stated.
Education Month, observed throughout March under the theme “Strong Foundations for a Future-Focused Generation”, features a range of academic, cultural and community engagement activities across the territory.
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Somebody tell this lazy, controlling, trouble making person to go have several seats please. She and her sidekick is making a mess of our education system. I can’t wait for her to get voted out. She is no use. Before you get vote out please give back the grant money your mother got to buy brakes and pay credit card. Also get back our belongers from your bf please. You knew he was not qualified and he belongers after being here for a few years and people who have been here for over 30 years still can’t any yet.
Somebody also needs to remind this lady the Government’s money has already come from the private sector by way of tax and license fees.
Perhaps if she spent less on flying first around the world going to every pointless conference she can find – then there might be more money left in the Government account. Why do the Government have to fly first class?
Her government got the economy in one mess. Businesses are struggling to survive because there is literally no investment in the country but the private sector must fund education? Puffer Fish, where will they get the money from to do this? This is the result of putting kids to do the work of adults. This lady hasn’t a clue.
Ms Minister, doesn’t the private sector already pay taxes? Why you keep wanting more and more, and feel to give nothing in exchange?
She want it to build more buildings for technical school in east end. She has no vision just want to continue spending on buildings She did nothing to improve education. The only thing I’ll remember is how she treat people, her ungratefulness and her big league fight with Mitch turnbul and giving her unqualified * principal position. People like her need to go make an honest living from all thiis entitlement. And frustration to the education system. Her mother did what she had but now is the time to stop the entitlement train at my children expense.
What is a m*om**? Someone who turns down a playground donation from someone in the private sector then turn around and try and tell the private sector what kinda contribution they should be doing.
The private sector hires the scholarship graduates that the government refuse to hire. The private sector accounts for at least 80% of the territories revenues that make up the budget for the country that the government keep squandering away on their mother, sister and boyfriend credit card. That is enough!!!!! Do your work and stop telling other people what to do!
DeCastro noted that the former music department at Elmore Stoutt High School was destroyed, resulting in lost equipment and setbacks to instruction.
Does she not remember that a local firm replaced all the instruments for the high school after Irma? If I was them I would not contribute again given how quickly this act has seemingly been forgotten!
In all aspects of the creative arts, it’s not so much funding that is needed from the community, but involvement. And in particular, the involvement of artists.
However, it must be realised that the essence of creativity is something different to what has gone before. As such, it may not conform to accepted educational guidelines in content and presentation.
The response from one headmistress elsewhere in the Caribbean, to the offer of one of my workshops that serve as an introduction to the creative arts, was: “My students don’t have time for that sort of thing”.
Likewise, right here in the BVI, my videos on the importance of art education in schools are not been considered relevant.
When they donate the instruments are you going to call the police to remove them off the property because they were not given in accordance with your policy? This is a clown show and peppa pig is in the staring role
Cut down on globe trotting with your crush and you could put the money towards more useful things. How much were those tickets to Finland including hotel cost and food? How much was the recent trip to the UK? The two of you are on a joy ride at the expense of tax payers. But day could only run until night catch it.
Who is the crush? LOL
Private sector must match investment? Start by giving back the money that your family got from the covid grants. Then Cut down on the constantly traveling by you and the chief education officer. Then stop changing government vehicles at the tax payers expense. Start there first and then come talk to the private sector.
somebody sit this bobble head ret**d down somewhere
She can take it from the amount of wasted funds in her travel budget. That’s why we can’t have children in politics.
Agreed…. There is more than one currently sitting minister who get more additional salary annually as a result of the greedy bill than the ENTIRE budget for music across the territory…. MAKE THIS MAKE SENSE!!!
I dare say if the good lady would decline at least two first class flights on her annual globetrotting extravganzas the music equipment for schools woud be bought and paid for.
How about leading by exmaple!
Why?
If all you VIP stopped traveling all over the world at the slightest opportunity then then would be plenty of money available.
This population will be well educated but a VERYYY UNHEALTHY ONE! Healthcare should be a PRIORITY, instead it’s getting worse.
A lot less creative accounting Sharie, give up on the free school meal ticket!
Once upon a time this woman was a beautiful and wonderful person: what happened! Today she is a bu**y and control freak – micro- manager- traveling all over the world for nada with her sidekick. As they say s—-e De—–0 – time longer than twine – you are going down at the next election wait and see.
She can ask her mother and boyfriend for money back and fund education with.
If Sl**ande will Stop Slow Wining and stop partying the money giving away to Promoters can fund the music school for eternity
Please go ask ya Boss for the money he wasting to help the youths@ Please and Thanks.