Recruitment challenges persist in education despite salary increases
Education Minister Sharie deCastro has acknowledged that recruiting teachers in the Virgin Islands remains difficult despite government investments in salaries, training, and infrastructure.
Speaking on the Talking Points radio programme, deCastro said while progress has been made, filling posts continues to be a challenge.
“Recruitment is still an issue,” she stated, adding that the ministry has raised qualification standards for educators to a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. She explained that this standard sets the Virgin Islands apart from some Caribbean territories where entry requirements are lower.
“In some Caribbean regions, the threshold is five CXCs. A bachelor’s degree is our standard. And so, of course, we have to be very strategic,” deCastro explained. The minister pointed out that while the government has increased teacher salaries and introduced new training initiatives, there are still systemic hurdles.
“Overall, just internal to the ministry, there are different systems and structures that we have to put in place to ensure that our schools are staffed,” she said.
Training local talent
To reduce dependence on overseas recruitment, the ministry has launched several programmes with the H Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC), including certificates in teaching and leadership.
“These teacher trainees are high school graduates… They’re going to be paired with a senior teacher… but they’ll also be taking courses at HLSCC towards their associate degree,” deCastro explained.
She added that the ministry is aiming for long-term sustainability by developing a pool of local teachers.
“We’ve projected, within the next five to 10 years, cycling these programmes every two to three years, we should be in a much better position to see the impact on our teaching force,” she said.
Investment in schools
Recruitment concerns come alongside government investment in school infrastructure and resources.
Over the summer, funds were directed towards electrical upgrades, new windows, water systems, and improved classroom conditions across public schools. DeCastro said these changes were aimed at creating a “comfortable, conducive learning environment” for both teachers and students.
The government also announced the opening of the Eslyn Henley Richez Learning Centre, a purpose-built special education school, described by deCastro as “a huge success for us as a territory”.
Despite these gains, she emphasised that funding remains a major obstacle.
“If we had more funding, we would be able to do more,” she said. DeCastro said the new training initiatives, salary adjustments, and partnerships with private donors will strengthen local capacity.
“We said to them, we will show up, we will give more, but we also want you to give more,” she said while thanking the private sector for its support.
Copyright 2025 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
The pickney and them rude and nobody really wants to work in those environment that make you want to hurt somebody child badly. The salary should come with a bonus system for compensating teachers based on overall performance and pass rates and that is what makes ppl want to work everyday.
Recruitment challenges and teachers are leaving. Nobody wants to work with you Madam. The work environment at the Ministry of Education has become toxic under your leadership and that of your side kick bestie. The place has become more of a kids playground rather than a place for serious professionals who want to make a difference in education.
The main demographic group of the juvenile attendees their parents and guardians,woul be a discouraging factor in recruitment of quality qualified and willing teachers,no matter the salary.
No longer are students and parents and guardians representative of the not too long ago , quality of character in these BVI.
The quality human character that has brought us thus far is rapidly dwindling . Unfortunately these VI are now the willing sepsis of what has always ailed the community of freed slaves in the island chain of the Caribbean….crime poverty illiteracy and the pervasive nonexistent family structure.
I agree 100% with your Comments. Since this C..ld Minister got elected the whole Education System has been one big Mess. If you are Not a Member of their Clique, you won’t be able to gain Employment in the System and if you are so lucky to get employed, you endure pure hell under the Leadership of some of their Handpicked, Dictatorship Principals who think they can work in solo against the other Teachers and frustrate the Hell out of who really cares about people Children. The whole Education System is a Mess. We need a Premier who is capable and able to know what goes on in all areas of Government and to Govern accordingly and Not every Tom, Dick, Harry and Mary think they know it all doing all kinda S**t and when comes time for Elections they take out their Cronies and Wine and Dine them with a fancy Dinner and Wine so as to garner Votes. This Territory is at a dis-advantage when it comes to proper Leadership… But then again the Bible says a Little Child shall Lead them and it is shown across all spectrum of this Government.
eshs is a warzone, the students are out of control, they are hurting each other and teachers, the bad ones need to be weeded out and sent somewhere else
How are you going to hire new ones when the current ones want to leave because of the unfairness in treatment and promotion…the young principals bully like their CEO friend. Promotion belongs to the young people who got it for a game…. 2 Math instructional officers to coach more than 100 teachers. All politics because they are not doing anything of substance. I guess no more of her friends want the job so no more instructional officers for other subjects. They have the education system for a joke. It’s sad. Only shame make them didn’t make the minister sister principal. Look next year. Education is going down. Painted schools but what’s going on in those buildings is the real issue.
It’s time to re-evaluate the system and make so drastic changes. The older teachers are still working the hardest and more serious. Parents still prefer the matured teachers while the ministry tries to downplay and frustrate them.
Please confirm in which countries do teachers only have 5 CXC’s please.
lack of youths trained or not looking to target to be apart of the school system. Push to educate them and guide into being teachers and having a spot open for when they finish studies
similar to nursing
we soon end up like usvi begging for youths to come back from abroad to work home
The E.R.L.C Opening but I don’t see any work/word on the Rebuilding of the Althea Scatliffe Primary School; Just like the Cultural Center the School seems to be gone to the dust. Could Honestly say this is the only place, under this government I’ve ever seen not inclined to get our kids their school back.
Follow the trend:
In the 70, 80, 90 2000 late as 2020
Teachers were respected
1. The public held had high expectations and the majority of teachers held high standards
Today
Teachers and students meet in the same bars and night clubs
Teachers and students dressed alike
No boundaries between teachers and students
Teachers sharing private life with students
Parents and teachers and students
Students could not lambast teachers to their parents
Parents had to come in when their children mibehave and the majority showed up
Today
Parents swearing at teachers if the child is disciple
And do not show up
Parents get upset when you send homework for the child to do
Parents just buy gadgets and leave them yp to these devices to train them
Today
The teachers fight in their home
Use swear words out of school
In the presence of children
Today
Some shallow individuals you see becoming teachers and acting Principals is a shame . They have NO MORALS
The intelligence young people who born here
Leave to be educated abroad do not return
So
The Ministry has no choice but choose the indigenous individuals who are here without a lot of knowledge and respect . We want to put their own regardless
It is social networking and who knows who
… Don’t be fooled. It is happening in every Ministry
We are sliding fast . The older average folks had more class, morals principles and direction .
The more than average is the opposite of these traits
You still taking Teachers, who has no BS ,not saying they can’t do the job so stop with the big talk.
LET THE MINISTER DO IT FOR A MONTH.She braids would loose out first day from stress.
I have always believed school is a place of learning and not socializing, its where young persons go to fill their brains with some sort of sense, not a place for you and your girlfriend to hang out and play etc..