Walwyn concerned: Students shunning teaching

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) does not have sufficient qualified educators because not many youths are interested in becoming teachers, said Minister of Education Myron Walwyn.

He noted that the situation is not unique to the BVI.

“This is a problem throughout the world in the teaching profession that we must find a way to address,” Walwyn said.

“The reality is that you do not hear young people saying these days that they want to become teachers. We need to develop a plan to attract the biggest and brightest minds in the teaching profession.”

Walwyn, who was responding to questions a resident posed on social media, noted that Finland has one of the best education system because – among other things – its teachers are properly trained.

“Finland has one of the best education systems in the world, and it is due to many things including the requirement of a Masters degree to teach at certain levels, along with the level of respect and remuneration accorded to the teaching profession.”

Back in May 2016, the education ministry announced that it would establish a teacher education institute at the H Lavity Stoutt Community College to ensure that – among other things – educators in the BVI are ‘professionally qualified’.

Walwyn, at the time, said: “A team in the Ministry of Education and Culture is already working on a proposal to chart our way forward for the institute, and we have already secured the assistance of the education arm of UNESCO to make this institute a reality.”