The ‘shift system’ imposed in schools following the 2017 devastation caused by hurricanes Irma and Maria, and carried forward into the 2018/2019 School-Year will finally come to an end. Photo: GIS/File

In 2016, under then Minister of Education, Mr Myron V. Walwyn, the NDP expended some $1.6M on the construction of a wall around the ESHS in a project that is now the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF). Photo: VINO/File

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr. Marcia Potter says owing to major repairs to the Enis Adams Primary School, Bregado Flax Educational Centre- Secondary (Building One) and more recently the ‘L’ Shaped Building on the Elmore Stoutt High School campus, the system employed under the National Democratic Party (NDP) government, will finally be abolished.

Education First - Premier Fahie 

“I am pleased to announce that all three sites will be ready for the start of school in a few weeks.  Dedication and handing over ceremonies will be held at each site within the coming weeks,” Dr Potter said.

During the opening of Summer Institute 2019, currently held August 26 – 30, 2019, Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) had reaffirmed his administration's commitment that education was a top priority.

He said as part of that motive, critical repairs were done to local schools with the aim of getting all students back in the classroom.

Dr Potter noted, “For the remainder of 2019, infrastructural works will continue.  Discussions and final decisions will take place on the feasibility of a junior secondary school at the Isabella Morris primary location and one on the eastern end of Tortola.”

NDP Neglected Sector 

Under the leadership of Dr D Orlando Smith, the National Democratic Party was accused on neglecting the VI’s education sector.

Information coming out of the April 2019 deliberations of the Standing Finance Committee (SFC) for the Ministry of Education and Culture said the NDP made no effort to sponsor the education of Virgin Islanders (VI) via the issuance of new scholarships post hurricanes Irma and Maria of 2017.

In 2016, under then Minister of Education, Mr Myron V. Walwyn, the NDP expended some $1.6M on the construction of a wall around the ESHS in a project that is now the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation by the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF). 

In her report, the Auditor General Ms Sonia M. Websiter noted that there was, “no value for money, workers being paid for work not done” and blatant violations of the law, in particular, the “Public Finance Management Regulations.”

The half-day system was instated at the ESHS to accommodate students without classrooms according to reports from the Government service. In the primary school system, students from the Althea Scatliffe Primary School, Enid Scatliffe Pre-Primary School, Enis Adams Primary School and Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre in Road Town were housed at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School.