The Ministry of Education has taken steps to improve its approach to school maintenance, aiming to enhance the quality of technical work performed on schools within the Virgin Islands. Photo: VINO/File

Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, and Sports, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro (AL),revealed during the Umoja program on ZBVI 780 AM on February 19, 2025 that the ministry has engaged technical experts to assist with infrastructure maintenance. Photo: Facebook

Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro (AL), shared this information during the Umoja programme on ZBVI 780 AM on February 19, 2025. She revealed that the ministry has engaged technical experts to assist with school maintenance.

'Trained individuals'

"We already started to work on fixing our approach to school maintenance. One of the things that has helped us is that we have some technical experts in the Ministry of Education, specific to education."

The minister mentioned that two positions were created within the ministry: Chief of School Infrastructure and Building Supervisor, both filled by engineers. This initiative has significantly supported the ministry's infrastructure mandate over the past two years. 

"These guys are trained individuals who know what to do, and so we are actively responding and shifting," she added.

'Electronic platform for maintenance reporting created'

Hon de Castro noted that an electronic platform was also created for maintenance needs, where the school principals can access to report issues.

The minister emphasised that the ministry is working to ensure that school maintenance is carried out during the Easter break and the summer months. 

"So we have been reviewing our approach to school maintenance because we have a very short window in the summer where we can get work done, and that is why we have thoughtful funding upfront in the budget."