Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), addressing teachers today, August 26, 2019, at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, in the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) in Paraquita Bay, Tortola, acknowledged the value of teachers and assured them education is a top priority for Government. Photo: VINO/File

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Culture Dr Marcia Potter. Photo: VINO/File

The Premier was at the time briefing teachers on the future of education under his Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration, while taking time to update persons on current issues facing the territory.

The occasion was the opening of Summer Institute 2019, being held during the week of August 26 – 30, 2019, under the theme “Engage, Encourage, Empower- Educate”.

Teachers saluted

Speaking on what his government wants for the territory’s students, the Premier said, “God wants out of you what he already put in because he can’t ask you to give him what you don’t have."

Hon Fahie continued, “And when we say we want to get the best out of our students, we know that the best is already in them so it’s just for us now to go and get the best out of them.”

He urged teachers to do the best in the education sector and saluted them for their selflessness in putting their career first. “Nothing is more selfless than imparting knowledge in the next generation to achieve greatness,” Hon Fahie said.

Reiterating the need for teachers at the national level, he said “In the life of the BVI, in this very instance in time, no profession is more noble than the teaching profession.”

VI is Unstoppable – Premier

Touching on the current economic state of the territory, the Premier told those gathered that the “The BVI is an unstoppable force that was put into a bottle.”

He said as such, the territory is on a collision course with destiny and together we have to prepare our people to build the Virgin Islands, with the government playing its part to provide resources to get the task done.

“Education is a top priority for your government,” he noting in highlighting that when his government came into office school required extensive repairs following the destructive hurricanes of 2017.

He said the Government will be prioritising critical repairs to get students back in the classroom, such as with the L-Shaped building at the Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS), which will be ready to accomodate students with full-time classes for the new school year.

Expect Challenges - Dr Marcia Potter

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Dr Marcia Potter representing the Education Minister, Dr the Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), extended best wishes to teachers for the 2019 school year. 

"Your contribution is limitless as it continues to bear fruit well into the future. That one thing that you've done for students could become the foundation that will propel that student into his/her purpose in life."

She said the world is changing and the need to explore new knowledge and skills in teaching and learning is paramount for the economic sustainability of the VI.

Further, Dr Potter encouraged teachers to welcome and expect new challenges since they have the potential to drive innovation and change.

According to the Department of Information and Public Affairs, Summer Insitute 2019 is in keeping with the OECS Strategy Indicator 3.5.3 which focuses on, “improving the quality of teaching and learning at all levels using learner-centered experiences.” It said the main areas of focus will be Critical Literacy and Physical Literacy. In addition to these two main areas of focus, several other sessions will target specific groups of educators.

Meanwhile, schools in the Virgin Islands officially reopen on Monday September 2, 2019.