Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Hon. Walwyn tells teachers to give of their best or leave the job!

- Principals & Education Officers urged to get out of their offices and be at ‘ground zero’
Teachers have been told by Education Minister Hon. Myron V. Walwyn that if they were not prepared to give of themselves as much as being asked to protect the future of the islands they should find another 'means of income'. Photo: VINO
Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn spared no bones in highlighting the shortcomings of persons in his education system and urged that they get their acts together. He even warned that failing to show progress could result in the non-payment of increments. Photo: VINO
Minister for Education and Culture Honourable Myron V. Walwyn spared no bones in highlighting the shortcomings of persons in his education system and urged that they get their acts together. He even warned that failing to show progress could result in the non-payment of increments. Photo: VINO
PARAQUITA BAY, Tortola, VI – School teachers were told in no uncertain terms that if they were not prepared to give of themselves as much as being asked to protect the future of the islands they should find another means of income. “Our young people and this country deserve much better than that,” said Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn.

The Minister was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Ministry of Education’s Professional Day, an activity which saw hundred of persons within the education system converging at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) on August 26, 2013.

“We are demanding that you give 100 per cent of your time and talent. Teaching is not an easy profession but it is the profession that you have chosen...” Hon. Walwyn insisted.

However, teachers were not the only ones that were beseeched by the Minister but also principals and education officers who allegedly sit in their offices and wait for issues within the school systems to be made public via the media before they take action.

“We want to discourage principals from running their schools from their offices. We want principals to be at ground zero. I have spoken to our Acting Chief Education Officer, Mrs Jillian Douglas-Phillips and I told her that I want to see her, as well as her education officers, out in our schools.  We cannot know the difficulties our schools are experiencing from the comforts of the Administration Complex.  If there is a situation in a school, the Ministry needs your first hand report of that situation before it hits the news,” Hon. Walwyn stated.

The call was also made for more emphasis to be placed on students considered weak as, according to Hon. Walwyn, “Bright children will always be bright no matter what class you put them in. Teachers, it is your responsibility to seek out those who have challenges in their learning and find ways to reach and teach them,” he said.

Teachers should practice speaking Standard English

Acting Chief Education Officer Mrs Jillian Douglas-Phillips, during her welcoming remarks, spoke at length about the need for persons in the education system to practice speaking Standard English. She said it has been one of the contributing factors to students performing poorly and even leaving the school system not having a good command of the English language.

20 Responses to “Hon. Walwyn tells teachers to give of their best or leave the job!”

  • BREAKING NEWS (29/08/2013, 08:22) Like (11) Dislike (318) Reply

    Hope he use the same advise for himself as he is doing a horrible job as a Minister..

    • Teacher (29/08/2013, 10:04) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
      i agree with Myron but the speech writer need to make his words more user friendly from coming across as bullyng
    • Great Job (29/08/2013, 14:44) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
      The minister is doing an excellent job. I find that the teachers in the BVI just want to do what they want to do and there is NO accountability. It is about time they know if they do not want to serve our children they can find another career. Most of them there are only there for the pay check anyway.
    • the rock (29/08/2013, 21:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      u must be crazy..give credit where credit is due..the man is doing a wondefull job!
  • Forbidden Truth (29/08/2013, 08:54) Like (21) Dislike (39) Reply
    Do something... Lead , follow or get out of the way. The Min is right on this.
  • Kim (29/08/2013, 09:22) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    minister the new tearchers need to work along side the old teachers for a while. The new teachers should be monitor closely. I am very sorry to say there are some teachers that are coming out can not read very disrepectfull. My daughter was in grade four never did much and now we are playing catch up
  • Standard English (29/08/2013, 09:23) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    "Teachers should practice speaking Standard English" is much to be desired in our Public School system. I had the privilege of visiting a few schools over the past school year seeking a "decent" pre-primary school for my child to attend this current school year and I was appalled at the grammar of some teachers. What really captured my attention was that in a particular school there was a teacher whose dialect (Jamaican) was so pronounced the students really had a hard time trying to understand what was being taught. Yes it was not "Standard English" being spoken to the students but rather, RAW dialect. If in the students' formative years they are being exposed to that way of speech it will become a part of them if corrective measures are not taken sooner rather than later. I truly hope Mr. Minister and all staff at the Dept. of Education take note and make corrective measures.
  • student (29/08/2013, 09:51) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    Im a student at the Elmore Stoutt High School. I get all A's and my GPA is a 4.0. Everyone is saying enter this year with a positive mind, everything positive. That's great and all but my problem is the writngs on the desks and walls and bathrroom stalls. I got haters and we all do. How can i enter this school year positively with my name big and broad...----- is a bad bitch? That's the one thing i need to be fixed in order to carry out positive and confident. I am going to go in school with the writings removed?
  • nanny cay (29/08/2013, 09:57) Like (10) Dislike (26) Reply
    have you ever listen to the poor grammer in the hosue of assemble???...listen to Alvin, Myron, Alvera and Deleris so do not be so hard on the teachers
  • ooooo (29/08/2013, 11:36) Like (2) Dislike (25) Reply
    this guy is a loose cannon
  • tola (29/08/2013, 11:57) Like (5) Dislike (20) Reply
    2 more years
  • my three cents (29/08/2013, 12:58) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    he will rather the teachers beg him for their jobs that's what behind it!!
  • Future (29/08/2013, 13:45) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    This is a case of can't catch the Pa (God) yu catch the pickney.
    • in the news (29/08/2013, 14:24) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
      There is little or no support in this country for Walwyn new dream up education plans!!
  • mvw (29/08/2013, 16:13) Like (0) Dislike (4) Reply
    I will win the next elections so ayo cold say wha ever ayo want bout me hahahahahehehehe
  • ausar (29/08/2013, 17:16) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    I couldn't have said it better Myron.

    Too many are in that job and are really not interested in teaching at all.

    Perhaps a job as a tourist "Barker" would be better suited for most of them..

  • NPolitico (29/08/2013, 21:48) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Leaders and leadership styles come in many different styles, shapes…etc. What is leadership? There are no universal truths. However, one definition is that it is a process for motivating others in a attaining a specific objective. But, though there are no universal truths, some practices and traits are more effective than others.

    As such, effective leaders light a fire within, not under team members. Lighting a fire within motivates team members to perform excellently on their own initiative without the consequences of threats. Yes, there are times to breakout the BIG stick but with effective leadership this would be a last resort. Lighting a fire under team members achieves short-term success and requires much more effort and resources. However, lighting(motivating) a fire within produces self-directed and highly motivated team members, creating a high performing organization. Generally, using positional authority to get things done is temporary. Team members perform because they need to protect their jobs not because they are motivated to.

    Further, an effective leader and manager motivate team members, recognize top performers, coach and counsel poor performance and part ways with members who failed to respond to constructive feedback.
    Teachers provide invaluable community service and are the brick and mortar and the foundation of the growth and development of the territory. Teachers contributed immensely to the success of doctors, lawyers, engineers, nurses, teachers, plumbers, auto mechanics, electricians, accountants, farmers, politicians….etc. Consequently, they need to be effectively led, not threatened.


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.