Education Minister Sharie de Castro
The government has emphasised its $76.2 million allocation to the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports in the 2026 budget, saying the funds will continue the territory’s push to modernise schools, strengthen training for teachers and expand youth development programmes.
The announcement follows a series of major infrastructure projects across the territory’s public schools over the past year, which government officials have described as part of a multi-year education transformation. The BVI has recently rebuilt or repaired several campuses that suffered structural deterioration or were damaged by past storms.
The Ministry said recent rehabilitation works included reinforced roofing, improved plumbing and electrical systems, restored water capacity, standardised windows and doors, climate-resilient upgrades, CCTV installations, and revitalised playgrounds and sports courts.
A major milestone this year was the completion of the Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre, the first purpose-built special education school in the OECS. Designs for the replacement of the Althea Scatliffe Primary School will be finalised in 2025, with construction expected to start in 2026. The government also plans a vocational and technical secondary school on the eastern end of Tortola and a dormitory project at H Lavity Stoutt Community College.
Education Minister Sharie de Castro said the Ministry’s priorities were shaped by feedback from teachers and students. “We consulted with our educators and they identified three priority needs: infrastructure, resources, and training,” she stated. “Our mandate is to continue strengthening each of these areas in a sustainable way… because we want to give them exactly what they need in order to achieve improved student outcomes,” she explained.
The Ministry noted that investments in digital tools such as smart boards, robotics kits and upgraded computer labs continue to expand students’ access to technology-rich learning. The BVI’s robotics team placed 42nd out of 181 countries and first in the OECS at the FIRST Global Robotics Competition.
Government officials said the 2026 allocation will support climate-ready classrooms, inclusive learning spaces and expanded youth and sports programmes aimed at strengthening discipline, confidence and teamwork among young people.
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