Teachers give Education Minister ultimatum over outstanding increments
According to the letter dated January 20, 2023, by the ‘Teachers of the Virgin Islands’, the Minister was told that the cost of living has skyrocketed, yet salaries have not risen to match inflation.
Salaries do not reflect the ‘rhetoric’
“Year after year, we hear the chants of how "essential" teachers are, yet our salaries still do not reflect this rhetoric. It is unfair, that the persons at the heart of education system, while having to be concerned for the well-being, and education of the territory's children, must simultaneously be worried and concerned about being able to afford groceries and pay bills.”
The letter did not state what action would be taken if the ultimatum was not met.
Hon de Castro, a former teacher, met with the teachers yesterday to hear their concerns.
Minister meets with teachers
Speaking on International Morning Braff show on Tola Radio VI this morning, February 10, 2023, Hon de Castro said she received a letter on Friday February 2, 2023, from the BVI Teachers Union making representation for payment for outstanding increments.
Upon receiving the letter she said she “swiftly reached out to the President of the BVI Teachers Union and subsequently requested a meeting with the Union so their concerns could be addressed in person, “and we could ultimately seek to achieve a common ground in the matter as it is something that is outstanding a long period of time.”
She said the meeting was held yesterday, February 9, 2023.
According to Hon de Castro, the intention of the meeting was “soley” to give teachers a direct audience with her self and team and representatives from the Ministry of Education were also present.
‘Good conversation’ had with teachers- Hon de Castro
“We had a very good conversation with the teachers that ultimately led to us coming to a common decision on the way forward.
She said the teachers requested of her exactly what they wanted her to do and champion for them in Cabinet, “and we settled on that reality and I expect to do just that.”
Hon de Castro also said she told the teachers the matter of increments has to be swiftly dealt with but more importantly, and to create some level of balance, the matter of teachers salary is what must be addressed with urgency “or else we would be faced with some significant challenges that none of us would even begin to imagine.”
She said up to Wednesday last there was a meeting with legislators and the Compensation Review team and she used the opportunity to champion increased salaries for teachers.
It is unclear whether the March 31, 2023 ultimatum for all increments owed to be paid still stands, as the President of the BVI Teachers Union, Tammy Henry, did not respond to our request for comment.
Some three years of increments are reportedly due to teachers.
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35 Responses to “Teachers give Education Minister ultimatum over outstanding increments”
The entire letter lacked formatting. A teacher prepared such?
Imagine the students’ English papers that were graded incorrectly.
As for the timeframe given for Government to respond, it is unreasonable.
Amongst the traits the letter claimed the teachers teach children, two should be to be realistic and reasonable.
stop neglecting our people year after then trying to play catch up
look at our highways, year after no repairs but come time for elections, fixing this and that: blowing up phone and my good those who neglected us for 3 years at your door step every hour
Mr elected official for 2023 shift the focus the foreign investors to our home land
- They did pay a few of the long outstanding increments for public officers which included teachers.
- They did try and meet teachers halfway with other concerns and solutions.
- Repaired BFEC Secondary Buildings from the 2017 hurricane damages
- Repaired BFEC Science lab from the 2017 hurricane damages
- Building the new JVD school building that was long overdue for years
- Repaired the L-shape building at ESHS which was needed since the damages from the 2017 hurricanes
- Constructed new beautiful facilities at ESHS which were needed since the 2017 hurricanes
- Improvements to Robinson O'Neal School facility including playground area
- New Enis Adams primary school dedicated through private public partnership
- Addressing the long-needed repairs to Althea Scatliffe school
- Major repairs to the Enid Scatliffe school
- Major repairs to Francis Lettsome school facility
- Major repairs to Anegada school and playground areas
- Major repairs to Willard Wheatley and the staff room
- Laptops for all students and teachers to assist online learning during covid
- Restarted the scholarship abroad programme which was stop after the 2017 hurricanes
- Award over 40 scholarships yearly to citizens to study abroad
- Fund HLSCC programmes such as culinary and hospitality training and certification
- Fund the alternate energy certification programme at HLSCC to prepare for the new opportunities in this new area
- Fund the marine programme at HLSCC yearly to prepare citizens for opportunities in the marine sector
- Fund a large chunk of the budget to keep education at all levels in the territory free for its citizens
- Continue to fund the training and retraining of educators
These are just a few of the ongoing success stories we overlook daily that cost millions, but they must be highlighted because despite the challenges and areas that need improvement, it is safe to say that contrary to a few, the government continues to do more good than bad in education especially in the wake of covid, hurricanes and globally recessions. However, we are a society tend to only like to highlight the bad areas and make it seem as if all is loss but it isn't. I know because I came from a family that could not afford to send me abroad to college but through the scholarship programme I know have my bachelor's degree and working on my masters. So, I know good is being done and must be highlighted.
My wife is a school teacher and the amount of money she spends on paper, ink, activities projects, numbers, etc...... just to reinforce a lesson is unbelievable.