Accessibility
Text size
Higher salaries, dedicated scholarships and a mentoring programme are among the measures being used to encourage more BVIslanders to take up teaching posts, Deputy Chief Education Officer Mrs. Heida F. Joyles-Selwood has said.
Speaking on Fifth District Dialogues on Sunday evening, she said this year’s recruitment attracted more than 300 young people interested in entering the profession.
Joyles-Selwood was responding to questions from Fifth District Representative and Minister for Communications and Works Kye Rymer about efforts to increase the number of BVIslanders in teaching.
“Number one, the salary has increased... thanks to the salary review. So that’s an incentive,” she said.
She stated that teaching salaries were higher than those in neighbouring St. Thomas, which she believed helped explain the interest from applicants outside the Territory. However, the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports was also working to develop its local pool.
Joyles-Selwood said five scholarship spaces were reserved for teachers and encouraged young people interested in the profession to pursue that support.
“Listen young people, if you are out there, want to teach, come in, you get a free scholarship,” she said.
The Ministry also engages students through career activities at high schools, introducing them to teaching and encouraging those pursuing studies to consider the profession.
Another avenue is the teacher trainee programme, which began with its first cohort in 2023. Those trainees are now pursuing the bachelor’s programme at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC).
A new cohort of 12 young people recruited straight from high school is being mentored in classrooms by senior teachers.
Joyles-Selwood clarified that the trainees were being guided into the profession rather than independently teaching students.
“They are not teaching, they are being mentored by a senior teacher,” she explained.
She said the mentoring process lasts two years, preparing trainees to pursue their degrees and return to teaching.
“We are doing work, and we are trying to encourage our young people,” Joyles-Selwood said, pointing to the more than 300 young people who expressed interest during this year’s recruitment as a positive development.
Speaking on Fifth District Dialogues on Sunday evening, she said this year’s recruitment attracted more than 300 young people interested in entering the profession.
Joyles-Selwood was responding to questions from Fifth District Representative and Minister for Communications and Works Kye Rymer about efforts to increase the number of BVIslanders in teaching.
“Number one, the salary has increased... thanks to the salary review. So that’s an incentive,” she said.
She stated that teaching salaries were higher than those in neighbouring St. Thomas, which she believed helped explain the interest from applicants outside the Territory. However, the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports was also working to develop its local pool.
Joyles-Selwood said five scholarship spaces were reserved for teachers and encouraged young people interested in the profession to pursue that support.
“Listen young people, if you are out there, want to teach, come in, you get a free scholarship,” she said.
The Ministry also engages students through career activities at high schools, introducing them to teaching and encouraging those pursuing studies to consider the profession.
Another avenue is the teacher trainee programme, which began with its first cohort in 2023. Those trainees are now pursuing the bachelor’s programme at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC).
A new cohort of 12 young people recruited straight from high school is being mentored in classrooms by senior teachers.
Joyles-Selwood clarified that the trainees were being guided into the profession rather than independently teaching students.
“They are not teaching, they are being mentored by a senior teacher,” she explained.
She said the mentoring process lasts two years, preparing trainees to pursue their degrees and return to teaching.
“We are doing work, and we are trying to encourage our young people,” Joyles-Selwood said, pointing to the more than 300 young people who expressed interest during this year’s recruitment as a positive development.
© 2026 BVI Platinum News. This article is original BVI Platinum content. Reproduction or republication without written permission is prohibited.
Community
Comments
What are your thoughts on this story? Share a respectful comment with the community.
Join the conversation
Your comment will appear after review. Email is only needed if you want reply or conversation notifications.