Some BVI teachers aren’t fully qualified
Education Minister Shari de Castro has admitted that there are some teachers in the local school system that haven’t met all the standards outlined for their jobs.
However, de Castro said this is an issue that can be rectified with professional development training — something her ministry has made mandatory for all teachers.
“Are there challenges in the system with teacher quality? Yes, [it’s] in every system. That’s why professional development is one of the major areas and I think the teachers recognise this themselves. Some of them may have been trained years ago, and when you consider the new literacies and technologies, it needs rejuvenating and it needs upscaling,” de Castro explained on the Talking Points radio show recently.
Teacher salaries much higher next door
She added that while it is important to focus on improving teachers’ skills, her ministry is also focused on retaining the teachers in the BVI. She added that no professional development can take place if the teachers continue to migrate to more attractive jurisdictions.
“I’m going to be making a statement in the House of Assembly soon about the number of teachers we have to find between now and September and the numbers are extremely alarming due to retirement [and] due to teachers leaving to go right next door,” de Castro told Talking Points host Violet Gaul.
“The starting salary in the Cayman Islands is $70,000. Some of our teachers have left to seek those types of salaries. The starting salary in the US Virgin Islands as of August is $50,000. Our starting salary is $31,000 for a qualified teacher.”
When asked to address the current standards the government uses to hire teachers, de Castro explained that the government is currently working to finalise that criteria. She said the government started working with the Institute of Education at the H Lavity Stoutt Community College last school year to provide mandatory professional training so teachers can gain new skills and upgrade the ones they already have.
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Some ministers aren’t qualified either….. hint hint.
and yet they were vex with Fraser when he talked about visa waiver for Guyanese. I am sure majority of the Guyanese teachers are qualified because in Guyana right now from kindergarten to high school the teacher have to be trained.
best wishes to the new goverment and you should say that before election
This woman was one of the worse teachers at Elmore Stoutt. She even quit teaching in the middle of the term and left her students stranded because she couldn’t cope. Where does she get off judging anybody else? Those teachers stuck it out and they are good teachers. You on the other hand was a horrible teacher in every way.
Oh gosh a teacher receveing 2500 in the BVI. Merccy
HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT QUALIFIED TO RUN THE BVI.
Recently visited the Caymans Island and learned that the Cayman Islands cost of living (especially rent and mortgage) triples that of the Virgin Islands. So when you factor in those numbers, you are right back to square 1, broke.
Not only teachers but engineers and other professionals. The BVI would continue to have problems retaining because we don’t pay.
Wheatley need to put that 250K toward the teacher’s salary.
you know what I realize? The BVI community have some people that are so very negative and ignorant. It seems that no matter what issue the elected officials address theses people will find something negative and downright stupid to say. These people have no interest in helping to build up the country. They are just like dead weight. Useless.
Who the hell is Fraser looking out for? BVI need to stop importing people and exporting money unless people have specialised skills. Every nationality now have a chill spit in Town or near a supermarket in East End. Seems like the Asians are now creating a spot as well. Just look good. I don’ give a hoot!!!
She probably left because she stood for something, and this is why she is looking out for the teachers because she knows how frustrating it could be, so she wants to ensure that they are adequately compensated unlike the former Premier who was a teacher too, and he did not look back once he left the high school as a math teacher.
Numbers don’t lie…please show your working next time please and thanks.
Goal. All teachers are trained in the next 10 years with no exceptions. From said date; only degree holders apply.
So a plan to ensure all teachers are qualified and auxiliary professionals as well.
. Accept graduates and pay them competitive salaries.
. Government pays 50% of university fees for xyz in return. ( lower salary for xyz years then…, )
. Awarded full scholarship to high achievers who are interested in Education, Educational Phycology, Mathematics and Statistics, English and Linguistic Studies. You get the drift, degrees (all kinds these days)
. UWI/UVI-we offer the most attractive package.
. Private Sector Professionals teach for 2 years.
. True succession planing, so all positions are filled upon retirement.
. Advertise annual in the newspaper, the positions of the future.
. Uk citizen teach for 5 years only; no accept-ion.
-Promote research and publish in journals.
-Question: which village/district has the highest compliance when it comes to taxation? Asking for a friend.
Anyway, we-We need the best for our kids, nothing less. A long term, strategy plan that is not interrupted by egos. A standard percentage of the budget goes to education regardless of who in.
We need to be competitive as a small- island British nation in this global market and for sure, we need to be leading the Caribbean in all metrics.
Anyway, you know all of this and I know I ain’t talking anything you.
Decisions, decisions.
I THINK SHE REALLY MEANT TO SAY THAT SOME TEACHERS IN THE BVI ARE NOT FULLY QUALIFIED AND NOT BVI TEACHERS. PEOPLE IN GENERAL NEED TO THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE THEY SPEAK AS MOST TIMES WHAT IS BEING SAID IS INTERPRET DIFFERENTLY…
It seems to me hiring underqualifuied staff is likely to be the outcome of employing newly qualified teachers over experienced teachers because the latter are not from here.
It have people working for company for over 10 years and is receiving same amount>
Prison, Immigration, Customs and the dam police have many unqualified. Society in peril and they corrupt.
and now the minister in charge of education
But I wonder if all the local Tom ,Dick and Harry who claim they are engineers are qualified LOL
I just have a few questions, I’m not going to challenge what you say because you would have all the facts but just wanted to know:
1. Are qualified teacher pay what they are worth?
2. Is it really the quality of the teachers to blame for most of the problems with the some kids these days, as in their attitudes, manners and general lack in even common sense?
3. Can a qualified teach to something to affect a child’s learn ability if the child shows a lack of interest in a particular subject?
At the end of the day I’m not saying quality doesn’t matter, if you can’t pay them, you won’t listen to their stress and they can learn from a YouTube video from an unqualified person do don’t even know vs. A qualified person in a room with the same visuals, wouldn’t you say maybe we really need to look at the kids and the dynamics of why they are the way they are and how we can help them without saying well it’s the teachers?
Professional development session for trained teachers by the untrained faciliciting the session
There are specific teaching qualifications which should be a minimum for entry level teachers. That is the only way to improve the children’s education.
I do remember when the Minister was teaching that she did not hold the necessary qualifications. I would be interested to know if she subsequently earned them.
is arrogant and her attitude *. The schools are in poor condition and the environments unhealthy for teachers and staff. And yet she is holding her head high and acting like she is in authority because she is. you all voted her in. deal with it. poor students. teachers if i were you i would leave too
Cayman teachers do not get paid $70,000 per year, not even in cayman dollars.
Why did people vote for you? Ya came Anegada and many of us had issues to discuss but you started off meeting like it wa a battle ship ya hear. Soooo wrong on so many levels. Then said health dept said the school was not in a state for it to have to close but the mold test results still pending? I maybe heard wrong cause ya definitely out of your mind if anything you said you thought was okay
She said during her 1st meeting ever with the people. I not from here but I was there and she was out of line. The teachers must have been told not to say a word and the parents she spoke to in an angry aggressive way. Most people missed it as no poster for parent meeting went out only obe fr teachers. And she blame principal for that. Snot a nice person i could tell
Do a favour and travel on a forever journey to a faraway land
For herself not something not for teachers or students. Arrogance abounding. Ya’ll take ya votes back. You’ve been had
Is nothing to play with. And if the minister not ministry came up there to say school dirty but mold tests result nah back yet but school na inna way where it needs to close… people need to take a stand. This is your health.
Who them all looking at that leaked the flyer. They would be shocked who actually did.
Poor thing has to take that blame while the real culprit enjoying when she asked the parent how you got it.
Who leaked it from here so the parent would never give up that information.
The same person had students blogging in there presence. And you all want them back.out of your mind.
Because 1 teacher has issue with another teacher. You used the opportunity to blog and instigate things because you know all the blame will fall on that one teacher who has the issue. God will deal with you instigator.you cannot retire because you strive in conflict and create division.
Teachers need to stop telling children they will amount to nothing.
If the minostry only knows that who they are holding on to for the things and realise that you used the opportunity to target that one teacher. You are the devil and your so call teacher under the facade of evangalism.you instigated the newbie to record the child because you know the parent will do forthing for the child.and you maximize the opportunity.
You said in one voice that teachers are sreened and qualified and now BVI teachers arent qualified. All your expatriates are.
Which parent does not want the best dor there children. A year ago irea was fighting how her child was not honored but today no one else can fight for them children.
Irresponsible parent hosting event and not supervising children when they got attacked by predator and you want to stand up and talk crap.how about you saying how you beat a teacher in her own house. You need to look at yourself in the mirror . Always high as a kite
For a PTA you are an embarrsaament. You did not look out for the children. You look out for your daughter o ly and if nothing has to do qith her. You did not do anything for the rest.
You should be before the court for beating the k teacher and her brother.
Talk about who fighting who. So hypocritical. You are the hypocrite
No wonder you shamely resign from PYA
Ayou promise the minister to stop and work together. Start now
You all were warned that they dont screen people. Them send a baby sitter to Anegada and you all were warned before the arrival.and ayou wonder why so many problems
You disrespected us as parents talking to us as if we are little children.decastro you were bitter and angry and that was not the way to shut down us parents. Many issues needed to be discussed and we came with solutions also.
This said Minister has no manners. That’s a form of being uneducated too.
C**b is the worse of all officers. She doesnt care about the anything. Always ready to war
If she set the principal straight then see a difference in the school .
Crabby patty is the reason for everything going wrong in education along with cromie . Time to change starting with the wig and then principals and teacher. At ESHS teachers couldnt get away with crap like now what cromie allowing
Crabie is fake.
No respect no nothing for anyone but herself.
C..b believes that teachers can be written up without knowing and the letters placed in their files. If requested to see your file, one has to wait months upon months after they take out whatever was placed and then one can see the file.
How can you write up a person and they dont know?
C..b is not genuine and is a nepotist.wondering what kind of principal she was.
As a classroom teacher she was horrible but they get the position now to abuse the system they went through and forgot what they did. KARMA.C…B YOU ARE A BULLY CERTAINLY NOT A NICE PERSON.