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

‘Upsurge of extreme misconduct’ in public secondary schools- Hon de Castro

- said students are threatening lives of their peers, teachers, administrators, & security officers
Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL) has said there has been an 'upsurge of extreme misconduct’ in public secondary schools. Photo: YouTube
The Ministry of Education has engaged the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and has requested increased patrols of schools and their surrounding areas, and strategic assistance with investigations in matters of extreme infractions as necessary. Photo: VINO/File
The Ministry of Education has engaged the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and has requested increased patrols of schools and their surrounding areas, and strategic assistance with investigations in matters of extreme infractions as necessary. Photo: VINO/File
DUFF’S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI- Already challenged by the lack of resources and measly salary, teachers also have to contend with the gross indiscipline of some students in the public secondary school system.

Madam Speaker, in recent weeks there has been an upsurge of extreme misconduct at some of our secondary schools, Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon Sharie B. de Castro (AL) stated at the Third Sitting of the Fifth Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) at the Save the Seed Centre, in Duffs Bottom, Tortola on February 10, 2023.

Zero tolerance on indiscipline

Hon de Castro also said the Ministry of Education stands squarely with all schools in declaring an absolute zero tolerance approach with regard to the perpetuation of behaviours of extreme misconduct.

I can regrettably confirm that some of our students are threatening the lives of their peers, teachers, administrators, and security officers and are threatening to destroy school property.

Additionally, Madam Speaker, our schools have found students in possession of marijuana and marijuana products as well as e-cigarettes and alcohol. Brass knuckles with knives attached are being confiscated from students far too frequently.

Also concerning was that, according to the Minister,schools have reported a significant issue with students bringing oversized splat-ball or pellet guns and using them to shoot at others after school.

Behaviour contract

Hon de Castro, a former teacher, said it was in September of 2022, in her capacity as Minister of Education, that she met with about fifteen students and their parents regarding their repeated misbehaviour during the last school year, and the school’s intervention plan and expectations were clearly outlined to all present.

Madam Speaker, both students and parents were required to sign a behaviour contract which outlined the school’s Code of Conduct and Discipline Policy. While some of those students have earnestly tried to improve their behaviour, Madam Speaker, the same is not true for others.

She said as an added measure to address the growing concerns with students’ behaviour, one secondary school in particular added work duty, in school suspension, counselling, engaging internal and external mentors and detention to their litany of strategies intended to remedy disruptive conduct.

Critical instructional time repeatedly disrupted

Here again, Madam Speaker, while some students have benefitted from this wrap around approach, others continue to have no regard for the school’s policies regarding student conduct.Even with all these measures added, schools continue to grapple with a significant number of infractions.

Hon de Castro said the behaviours described above are being perpetuated by a very small percent of the overall student population. However, 100% of the time of the schools’ administrators, teachers and security officers are consumed addressing these matters and critical instructional time is being repeatedly disrupted.

‘Requisite consequences’

Madam Speaker, this cannot continue.

The Minister said this means that students who are caught with drugs or drug paraphernalia, edibles, alcohol, knives or toy guns and students who engage in gang fights or threaten teachers or other staff will face the requisite consequences as this type of behaviour cannot be allowed to continue.

She said the Ministry has also engaged the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and has requested increased patrols of schools and their surrounding areas, and strategic assistance with investigations in matters of extreme infractions as necessary.

Madam Speaker, we encourage parents to talk with their children about the potential implications of engaging in misbehaviour and we also encourage the community to assist us in this regard,” Hon de Castro said.

15 Responses to “‘Upsurge of extreme misconduct’ in public secondary schools- Hon de Castro”

  • yea (13/02/2023, 10:15) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Might have to go back to Flogging
  • Islandboyy (13/02/2023, 10:31) Like (9) Dislike (5) Reply
    Bring back the leather strap or the ruler with the metal edge.thats what I got back in the day.i have no criminal record.
  • dr. Seuss (13/02/2023, 10:48) Like (7) Dislike (6) Reply
    Why you have yourself looking like a "Who" from Whoville?? SMH
    • Dr. Seuss, or Sass? (13/02/2023, 14:53) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      Seriously juvenile disrespectful comment towards Honorable De Castro.
  • Really??? (13/02/2023, 11:36) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    As MoE this is all you have? Time to do something for the salary that you receive. That's what you were elected for, less talk more action.
    • :) (13/02/2023, 12:29) Like (8) Dislike (5) Reply
      For the Amount she has done in the couple of months that she has dad this position is tremendous. Being Real!!!!!!!!
  • Signing contracts !!! (13/02/2023, 12:45) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Have training programs for young teenage parents on how to train up a child
    Have training programs for young teachers on teachers - students conduct in the classroom- they are not on the same level with The students they teach
    Teach all parents who have school age children that ALL teachers are to be respected whether they are BVI slanders, Belongers or expatriates
    Teach Administrators that there must be professional relationships between them and their staff
    Not trying to score brownie points ( power struggle

    Then there will be no need for contracts waste of time
  • mulato (13/02/2023, 12:59) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    can they be charged, is better to lock them now than have to lock them later. at this stage they may be corrected.
  • lol (13/02/2023, 13:35) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Not whoville lol lol
  • nanny (13/02/2023, 13:43) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    watching half time, and seeing the action.....and whatever else onTV...There is no hope but for Actively Parenting and Role Models helping by Example.....oh my.
  • AM NOT SURPRISED (13/02/2023, 16:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    NEITHER SHOULD YOU , AND I WILL SAY NIT AGAID UNLESS THOSE PARENTS WHO SAY THEY LOVE THEIR CHILDREN , HAVE CHECKED OUT ,TO FIND OUT WHATS IN THEIR SYSTEM ( BLOOD TEST ) THEN YOU ALL WILL BE IN FOR A RUDE AWAKENING ) EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE STATES , THE YOUTHS COPYING SO , YOU CAN KEEP ON HOLLERING OUT ( MY CHILD IS AN ANGEL /\\_( THE MENDEZ TWIN BROTHES KILLED THEIR OWN MOTHER AND FATHER ) SO YOU WAIT AND FOOL YOURSELVES ,) THEY ARE EXPOSED TO ALL KINDS OF SRUGS OUT THERE AND iT CAN BE SLIPPED INTO DRINKS / FOOD OR WEED WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE ,JUST LIKE THE DATE RAPE DRUG , YOU ALL NEED TO GET SERIOUS , REAL SERIOUS
  • Forbidden Truth (13/02/2023, 19:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What they allow is what will continue.
  • Poorman (13/02/2023, 20:33) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hon Minister this has been going on for years with our youths. Every School day, every sport day, every movie day/night, anywhere where a few youth gather you will find the fights, the drugs the misconducts, the injuries, damage to private and public. properties, you want to know something else? All you have been hearing are "Goverment is not doing enough for our youths they need to find something for them to do" The few parents who tried to discipline their children end up in court charged for abuse. Madam, the situation is hopeless. This situation has been going on since before you were born and past and current Goverments seem helpless as to what to do.


  • smh (14/02/2023, 07:19) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    This minister is very stush and she has no manners.
  • Start now (14/02/2023, 16:42) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    When they get away with theses bad behaviours in school, they leave school and practicing it society. Hence, a long time ago our school should have had a zero tolerance for those types of behaviours.


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.