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Education Minister requesting $2M for 'complete overhaul' of schools

- challenged elected members to put their money where their mouths are
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), centre, is proposing an allocation of $2M to address some of the issues plaguing schools and has given elected members early notice that he will be seeking their support. Photo: GIS/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) is proposing an allocation of $2M to address some of the issues plaguing schools and has given elected members early notice that he will be seeking their support.

Teachers have been staging protests in the form of a sickout, calling on Government to address some of the longstanding problems, including that of mold, that have existed over different administrations but exacerbated by the hurricanes of September 2017.

We have heard your cries

“Teachers, I have heard your cry, and I acknowledge that you are right. It always seems that money can be found for emergencies in other areas, but I declare to you teachers, I recognise we are in an emergency situation, and we need the resources to fix it. So standing with teachers is not enough. We must put our money where our mouth is. We must back up our talk with action,” Dr Wheatley stated during a live broadcast addressing the concerns of teachers last night, October 31, 2021.

He then challenged all elected members in the House of Assembly “to support the allocation of $2 Million in the upcoming budget for a complete overhaul of our schools.”

The Education Minister added, “ Let’s make sure that every single school has the money that is required to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for our children.”

Not offended

Meanwhile, Dr Wheatley said he is not offended when his ministerial colleagues expressed that they were standing with teachers who were carrying out silent protest action last week.

“Let me affirm, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that our teachers have undisputably valid concerns that must be addressed. Therefore, I would never feel offended when anyone says they stand with teachers. I, too, stand with teachers. We all should stand with teachers."

16 Responses to “Education Minister requesting $2M for 'complete overhaul' of schools”

  • Sam (01/11/2021, 08:17) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    2017 the territory began spiraling out of control: it took 2 years to rebuild the high school all now our children shuffling
  • But wait (01/11/2021, 08:19) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    I thought the education system had collected money already to rebuild the school.
    Somebody throw me a bone here.
  • RealTalk (01/11/2021, 08:22) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Just asking will that be enough? We the people know very well tortola governments ( all parties) does have some ridiculous spending. And what does this 2m involves actually. From my point of view schools need to alway be equipt with all utensils necessary for teachers to perform there daily work always the education system was never to reach where its at now. And it's amazing to see teachers across the bvi still give it there all to teach under those circumstances And if there any inforstuctures need added or maybe installed at a school see if it's possible to have them done at a reasonable time once the money is available to do so And for God sake please please please in the nearest future get does high school children back town (ALL) from having them up and down the highway. let the rehabilitation off Elmore stoutt high school begin . Let the education system be a better one for all. We have shinning teachers and children to be greatful for
  • Papa Smurf (01/11/2021, 08:28) Like (16) Dislike (4) Reply
    5 million wasted on lawyers for an inquiry. Was that allocated in the budget! You all found it somehow!! Now you talking madness about wait for budget?
  • Heckler (01/11/2021, 08:56) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    5 million bucks for unnecessary COI lawyers and over quarter of a million dollars with the speaker shenanigans with COI and mark's drama
  • 3 blind mice (01/11/2021, 08:56) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    See how they run
  • BS! (01/11/2021, 09:31) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    Where did Honourable (!?!) SoWhatsGoingOn? pull that number from? I see two options - either it's based in fact and they have long known what was needed and chose to do nothing about it or this is plucked out of thin air. A nice big number that would make us think they will do something ...but really won't.
  • Sue said it (01/11/2021, 09:49) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    2Million dollars? That is not enough money to rebuild the school on JVD. The Government of this BVI can find and spend money on certain foolish and unnecessary things but, can’t find the money for the betterment of the Education System. 2Million dollars, laughable.

  • jokers (01/11/2021, 10:03) Like (1) Dislike (6) Reply
    BOY YOU GOT TO GIVE IT TO THE VIP GOVERNMENT .THEY PERFORMS WELL WITH OR WITH OUT PRESSURE
    AT LEAST THEY DONT BUCKEL LINE MARLON MENS GOVERNMENT
  • People of the bvi (01/11/2021, 10:51) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    We hold the power in our hands, keep reminding them of that. They work for us, we are their BOSS, WE PUT THEM WHERE THEY ARE TODAY AND WE HAVE THE POWER IN OUR HANDS TO REMOVE THEIR NON GRATITUDE BEHINDS OUT OF OFFICE. COME ELECTION THEY WILL FEEL THE TRUE STING OF THE WASP.
  • Sam (01/11/2021, 16:11) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    my goodness 10 million on the aeroplane that some have not seen but we can see repairs of the school for the children and grandchildren
  • Realistically (01/11/2021, 22:02) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Any one who wants to blame Shawanda for building crumbling is very unreasonable. He is education minister for 2 years what happen to those who were there for eight years before hurricane and pandemic. People be realistic and stop using everything for personal agendas
  • schupes (01/11/2021, 22:50) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Only now Sowande know that it needs money for schools. When he became the Minister the first thing he did was give YEP a set of money. YEP is funded by the millionaires already. It has other after school programs and he didn’t give them a penny but he was a founding member for YEP and he gave them all. The same one for YEP he put as his Chairman for the Education Advisory Board and he criticizing everything and ain’t advising the minister on education.
  • Unreasonable people (02/11/2021, 00:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    These problems existed for years and you want to tell me that he must fix past and current problems in 2 years?? Not to mention the whole covid mess that screwed up the World. Furthermore, shame on the other representatives for keeping quiet and not supporting his efforts secure the funds for education that he has been seeking. Stand with him and demand that money from Andrew. He is fighting, but you need to fight with him!
  • RedStorm (02/11/2021, 22:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Honourable,
    Please try find 6 million. Those teachers need a living salary.
  • musa (04/11/2021, 00:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Our frontline teachers need to have a pure understanding our students will be affected. And our leaders need to be more focused on the welfare of education and educators


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