Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Honourable Sharie B. de Castro has said that day 2 of the Education World Forum has energised her delegation, and bolstered and widened their vision to re-imagine education in the Virgin Islands.

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley and members of his delegation met with a large gathering of students and Virgin Islanders at the BVI London Office in the United Kingdom on May 8.

Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Honourable Sharie B. deCastro will be away from the Territory on official duties attending the Education World Forum 2023 in London, United Kingdom from May 5 to 12.  

Students from the Francis Lettsome Primary School are the 2023 Primary Foreign Language Bowl winners. Robinson O’Neal Primary School placed second, while Joyce Samuel Primary School secured third place.

Madam Speaker, on Friday 3^rd, February 2022, I received a letter for the BVI Teacher’s Union regarding the payment of outstanding increments. Upon receiving the letter, I immediately contacted the union to request a meeting with the intention to hear directly from teachers so that their concerns could be effectively articulated and represented.

Madam Speaker, in recent weeks there has been an upsurge of extreme misconduct at some of our secondary schools. In fact, Madam Speaker, I can regrettably confirm that some of our students are threatening the lives of their peers, teachers, administrators, and security officers and are threatening to destroy school property. Additionally, Madam Speaker, our schools have found students in possession of marijuana and marijuana products as well as e-cigarettes and alcohol. Brass knuckles with knives attached are being confiscated from students far too frequently. Schools have also reported a significant issue with students bringing oversized splat-ball or pellet guns and using them to shoot at others after school.

The Ministry of Education in partnership with the VI Hong Kong Office have announced the opening of the 2023 to 2024 Asia Abroad Scholarship Programme.

Madam Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to inform this Honourable House and this Community about the Effective Leadership Training Programme which commenced on January 18^th through a partnership between the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports and The Institute of Education at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College.

Madam Speaker, this school year, the Ministry of Education has endeavoured to re-imagine education as we work to better prepare our students to be leaders in an ever-changing world.

Madam Speaker, I wish to update this Honourable House on the successful completion of the ESHS Redevelopment project which signified a major investment in the infrastructure that supports education in the Virgin Islands.