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Teachers with only Associate's Degrees or less told to ‘upskill’ themselves

- Acting CEO Orlandette R. Crabbe said soon an Associate's Degree or less would not be accepted for the teaching profession
Acting Chief Education Officer (CEO) Orlandette R. Crabbe has encouraged educators in the Virgin Islands (VI) to advance their education. Photo: Facebook
Educators were also assured by Acting Chief Education Officer (CEO) Orlandette R. Crabbe that the ministry will continue to support their professional development efforts ensuring they all have access to the required 60 hours of training through the Institute of Education at the HLSCC. Photo: Facebook/GIS
Educators were also assured by Acting Chief Education Officer (CEO) Orlandette R. Crabbe that the ministry will continue to support their professional development efforts ensuring they all have access to the required 60 hours of training through the Institute of Education at the HLSCC. Photo: Facebook/GIS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Acting Chief Education Officer (CEO) Orlandette R. Crabbe has encouraged educators in the Virgin Islands (VI) to advance their education.

The Acting CEO was speaking during Professional Day 2024 on Monday, August 26, 2024, when she revealed that one of the Ministry of Education’s main goals is to transition away from positions held by those with only an Associate’s Degree or less.

“So teachers in Grade 1 and 2 positions, we encourage you all to seize every opportunity to upskill yourselves in preparation for these changes,” she said at the event held at Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) in Paraquita Bay.

Opportunities for advancement are there

Crabbe also informed that HLSCC will be rolling out its Bachelor of Education Programme in 2025. As well, Walden University, a partner of both the Education Ministry and the BVI Teachers Union, is working on a special programme for teachers from the VI.

Professional development & licensing

Educators were also assured the ministry will continue to support their professional development efforts, ensuring they all have access to the required 60 hours of training through the Institute of Education at HLSCC.

Mrs Crabbe further revealed that the Education Ministry is “actively aligning” its regional standards to allow VI educators to obtain licenses that are recognised locally, regionally and internationally.

32 Responses to “Teachers with only Associate's Degrees or less told to ‘upskill’ themselves”

  • resident (28/08/2024, 12:20) Like (27) Dislike (6) Reply
    you all are taking folks out of highschool, since when you would need a bachelor's degree
    • Degrees don’t cut it (28/08/2024, 14:07) Like (15) Dislike (14) Reply
      There are far too many people in the BVI with Mickey Mouse degrees from Mickey Mouse colleges in the US - the degrees are not worth the paper they are written on. Where did the CEO get her qualification from?
  • Please Spare Me (28/08/2024, 12:25) Like (63) Dislike (7) Reply
    I just hate to hear these educated fools always speaking like they are competing for a pageant show. All the education in the world wouldn't help some of those bad attitude teachers. The kids are graduating every year and can't even speak proper English must least a second language. Teach our kids real life skills rather than that bunch of COLONIAL NONSENSE!
    • Real (28/08/2024, 13:45) Like (28) Dislike (6) Reply
      school aint teaching them nothing but how to be a slave again cut the bs wakeup people need a reform in the land break away from colonial thoughts work all your life to retire at 65 with 5 years expectancy to enjoy life
      time to break free from this crap
    • @Please Spare Me (29/08/2024, 17:23) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      If you have children, what are you doing in your home to teach your children how to speak well. Do you read to your children? Do you even buy books for your children and encourage them to read as well? A child’s foundation starts at home. Be the example you want your child/children to be in order to give them a head start when they enter school. Stop expecting the teachers to do your work in addition to teaching our children.
  • Si Mon Pow Err (28/08/2024, 12:54) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    There are some ( and I said some not all so don’t come for me) teachers who could never advance their educational levels because they are too busy working on shortcuts to advance their bank accounts. It is a profession with so much importance to our youths future development and what are we giving them to see?
  • All talk (28/08/2024, 13:06) Like (33) Dislike (5) Reply
    Talk is all they do. If you are in her and the minister clique you can get a high position in education with an associate. Education has gone to the dogs under these people.
    • @All talk (28/08/2024, 17:12) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
      Stop tell lies. Name who has been appointed in the ministry in a high position job with only an associate. Pure envy and jealousy in your heart. The Almighty is up high but he looks down low. Just remember that. Bunch of hypocrites!
  • Xxx (28/08/2024, 13:20) Like (5) Dislike (46) Reply
    We have one of the best educational team ever this minister and this CEO are moving us in the right direction
    • The Best! (29/08/2024, 06:27) Like (2) Dislike (13) Reply
      I have to agree with you and as a teacher I am speaking with decades of experience. Hon. Sharie de Castro and her team is the best thing that has happened to education in this territory! Don’t mind the noise we’re Moving Full STEAM Ahead!
  • Her Sister (28/08/2024, 13:47) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    Giving her much insight
  • WEW (28/08/2024, 14:32) Like (14) Dislike (6) Reply
    There are teachers with only a associates degree or LESS ? No wonder we're where we are.
  • Laslow (28/08/2024, 14:36) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply
    Every year in the budget the Education Department is getting less than what is needed, imagine a teacher "upskill" like they are asking and still have to pain your own classroom or walk with your own sanitary supplies the week before school start.
  • Make sure (28/08/2024, 15:04) Like (77) Dislike (1) Reply
    Make sure TO UP their PAY as well!!!
    • @Make sure (28/08/2024, 17:20) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      Those same people who you want their pay up are making $47,000 plus with the new salary review so stop talk piss.
  • Manjack (28/08/2024, 15:23) Like (17) Dislike (7) Reply
    It seems as if every they want every Manjack to have alphabet letters behind or in front of their. What is the focus/priority , degrees or not turning functional , non competitive illiterates. Does having degrees mean that one can teach effectively? I’m not against teachers acquiring degrees but the focus should be putting teachers in the classroom who can teach. Do you have to have a degree to teach English, algebra, geometry, trigonometry,,history, civics, shop, , etc?? It is ok to incentivize getting a degree but the teachers who don’t should not be stigmatize, penalize..The goals should be turning out functional literate students..
    • Quiet Storm (29/08/2024, 12:53) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      To Manjack,,you hit the nail on the head. We are of the opinion that degrees automatically makes the holder effective teachers. No, no. A teacher success should be measured by students outcome. Are they functional illiterate or literate students? Every holder of a degree may not be up to the task. On line degrees may have cheapen degrees. A degree is a piece of paper and is useless if the holder cannot deliver.
    • the truth is (30/08/2024, 21:05) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      Many associate teachers are demonstrating lot more teaching skills than those with Bachelors and Masters.
      • evidence (02/09/2024, 16:31) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        Do you have any evidence? Any data to support this claim? There is no advanced country in the world where the Teacher has only an Associate degree and is not expected to advance themselves through continued education. There is something called Pedagogy which is how one goes about the teaching of something. Children will have difficulty learning if 'how to teach' is not in line with 'knowing what' you are teaching. Let the experts do their work.
  • hope not (28/08/2024, 15:40) Like (8) Dislike (5) Reply
    Acting CEO of Ed. Every one is not like you, who can afford it. You will have to put them in a position where the government will foot the bill. Taking away someone's position in the name of degree is heartless. Who can afford to move up well so be it. Who cannot let them remain, they are not complaining.
  • @Real (28/08/2024, 16:09) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Honestly I whole heartedly agree. Today I was thinking we have all this technology but because we stray/neglected the rural lifestyle we live worse off than people in the past, only with better health care and more stress. There is enough for everyone but when we put money in the mix there is never enough.

    There's enough funds & tech to have a community chicken coop or even a wild coop system where you place scraps inside and the chickens lay in structures. If that is a dumb idea OK, we can come up with at least 1 good idea.

    Community is what fed people before... now every man wants to get educated to do it themselves. When the dollar crashes & financial market upturns, people are starving despite education. Following the dollar we have shifted from manipulation of nature to manipulating that dollar out of a next person's hand.

    Meanwhile someone is out there printing the paper relentlessly for free while we grind our lives away. Try to trade paper money with a ancient person and they will say what the hell am I supposed to turn this into? Fire, toilet paper?
  • Lester (28/08/2024, 16:54) Like (18) Dislike (3) Reply
    Teaching is a Labour of Love —I went through BVIHS where teachers had Degrees in their subject matter BUT could not get their message across:They were NOT trained teachers . It begs to ask ; If you taught and tested AND everyone Failed —-Did you not teach?
    I was fortunate to attend Erdiston Teachers college In Barbados and until THE FUNDAMENTALS of Subject. Matter. Predicate is understood along with Classroom management; There will always be the challenge of lesson Preparation/ Delivery / Application and Testing . Degrees are great —TEACHERS NEED TO BE TRAINED as Doctors do INTERNSHIP
    • Reflect (29/08/2024, 08:45) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Truth...thank God for teachers like the late Jennie Wheatley, Terracita Gordon, Hoson Hatchett, and Chandra Ramroop, Jocelyn Rhymer, Julia Christopher, Sandra Ferrier-Gomes, Eidenn Smith, Marion Mutler, just to name a few,
  • jokes (28/08/2024, 20:17) Like (15) Dislike (3) Reply
    Degrees (unless in technical fields) are a complete waste of time across the board. People are either competent or they are not! Teacher's qualifications should be something put together in a uniformed manner by the Ministry not just telling people "get a degree". This is why there are so many 'educated' fools around here because they do any stupid online program and get a BA or MA via email. It is time to start thinking about our future and stop the BS!
  • Hello friends (29/08/2024, 00:49) Like (8) Dislike (5) Reply
    Well-ma-boy, it is so frightening reading the negative comments to the suggestion for better trained educators. If our children are to successfully compete in their journey through an ever demanding world they must be taught by personnel who themselves have successfully
  • hello (29/08/2024, 00:53) Like (7) Dislike (3) Reply
    Taught by those who have successfully navigated the system being suggested ny the CEO.
  • The Usurper (29/08/2024, 08:22) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wait Wait kids getting educated by ASSOCIATE DEGREE HOLDERS? That's going to help motivate a child to higher heights? Maaaan.
  • resident (29/08/2024, 10:44) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    This is not 1950. If you want your students to compete in a global economy, they need up-to-date education. That means teachers trained as both educators and subject experts. They need a college degree and teacher certification.

    This idea that you can take high school graduates, give them a couple courses at the community college and plop them in the classroom is a cheap-out. Hire and pay qualified staff.
  • I agree (29/08/2024, 10:50) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    How can you expect teachers to provide educational guidance if they're not educated and well learned. The world is evolving, either you keep up or get left behind
  • FEARFUL FACTS (30/08/2024, 20:21) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    The educatiin system has become so complicated that numerous skullful BUT discouraged educators seems to be planning to leave after 25 years.
    WHYis this happening?
    HOW can we save our teachers.
    WHAT will happen in the next few years.


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