‘Certainly, we accept that we must pay our educators more’- Premier Wheatley
“Of course, wages are our concern. The Government did our part in providing the funds and approving the increment payments. We regret that the process has taken longer than it should have, but we are grateful that 97% would have received their increments by August 31st and the remaining 3% will receive by mid-September,” Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) told educators at the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Professional Development Day at Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) today, Monday, August 28, 2023.
‘Educators deserve better recognition, rewards & remuneration’- Premier
Acknowledging the sacrifice of educators in the Virgin Islands, Dr Wheatley educators deserve better recognition, rewards, and remuneration for the valuable work they do and that it is an issue in many countries and that many governments have inherited.
He said the issue has contributed to teacher shortages as it has created difficulties in drawing persons to the profession and retaining them.
“The problem becomes more acute when we factor in that some countries are attracting teachers from other countries to fill their own staff deficits by offering more competitive packages.”
According to the Premier, these are some of the challenges small economies and small countries face but “we are going to put our best foot forward.”
‘We accept that we must pay our educators more’
Further, Premier Wheatley said the Public Service Compensation Review will soon come before Cabinet, “and I do not wish to pre-empt whatever recommendations the reviewer will be putting forward but certainly, we accept that we must pay our educators more,” Dr Wheatley said.
The Government of the Virgin Islands in October 2022 signed a contract with Trinidad-based consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory Services Limited (PwC) to conduct a public service compensation review for a period of nine months.
The compensation review sought to address remuneration disparity, further support the retention, engagement, and motivation of skilled and competent officers to effectively deliver public services, and to move toward a ‘Total Rewards’ Scheme that promotes high performance.
Meanwhile, the Premier reminded educators that even in difficult times, “we are not on opposite sides. We all want the same things, especially for the children.”
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22 Responses to “‘Certainly, we accept that we must pay our educators more’- Premier Wheatley”
$10, 000 to $18, 000.00 Only for those making less than $40. 000 a yr. So the teachers and lower bracket wagers can benefit and have a little more.. Take the tax credit away from those making $40.000 or more a yr, or keep them at the $10.000.. Time to get some equity, some financial balance...Hard decision but the right one..Good leaders make tough decisions..
Let’s talk about teaching, instructing, etc. Teachers provide an invaluable service to the community from Kindergarten, to primary, to secondary, to tertiary, etc, contributing to the territory’s national growth, development, etc. Every lawyer, engineer, doctor, architect, craftsman, technician, professional , paraprofessional, etc, owe his or her success to the tutelage, care and feeding of teachers. Teachers may not earn as much as some of their students, but they deserve a fair and reasonable compensation package, ie, pay, vacation, medical, retirement benefits, etc. They also need safe, secure, and healthful facilities with the tools, equipage , etc, to teach in and with. They also need and deserve the community’s support, appreciation, recognition etc. Teaching is a labour of love and its success depends on the warm and helpful relationship and partnership with parents or guardians to ensure a positive outcomes on education investment.
Compensation addressed, teaching is a labour of love and a noble profession that is a critical to the success of the territory. As such, government must launch a public education and outreach programme to attract and recruit Virgin Islanders into the teaching profession. There should be a surplus of Virgin Islanders interest in teaching, not a dearth of interest. It is about nation building, for a surging, progressing, growing, etc nation depends on teachers and education. The Premier tasked the Hon Rymer with extending TBLIA, so too he should lean on the Hon de Castro to enhance the teaching profession for Virgin Islanders. Teachers are needed to take the BVI well into the 21st Century and beyond; we cannot treat and look at teachers with a jaundice eye. It is about patriotism.