Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Recent special needs graduates haven’t integrated well in society

Recent special needs graduates haven’t integrated well in society

Principal Vansittart Huggins of the Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Centre (EHRLC) – a school for children with special needs – said she believes students who left the facility since 2017 were not properly integrated in the BVI community due to the school not having a designated building.

The school’s facility was destroyed in 2017 following the hurricanes Irma and Maria, and plans were set by the government to relocate the new school on the grounds of the Magistrates Court in a complete land swap.

Students from the school have since been temporarily relocated to the Althea Scatliffe Primary School and other schools across the territory until the new school building is completed.

Principal Huggins said the absence of the building meant there were several essential amenities the students had to do without.

“Right now because of our limited space, we just have everything shut up and it’s very frustrating for them because the chalk and talk just does not work. And sad to say, we are missing a generation of special education children because those who have left since 2017, I don’t think they are placed properly in society,” Huggins stated.

Missing key amenities play significant role


Principal Huggins said although the children get to interact with students from other schools under the current temporary relocation system, the amenities are not present due to the limited available rooms that are still a very critical aspect of the children’s development.

She said: “At first we welcomed the inclusion where the children were able to mingle and get that social aspect but special education is more than just the social aspect, we’re teaching them for life, we’re teaching them life skills.”

“The amenities that we have here are not conducive for our students to learn. For instance, we are in dire need of a kitchen, we have pots and pans, we have a little stove, but we need a kitchen. We teach our students kitchen skills because they need that for life, we teach them sewing skills, we teach them different aspects, computers and other things,” Huggins explained.

Works to commence on school soon


Education Minister Dr Natalio Wheatley said the plans for the school building were steadily progressing and are presently at the design phase.

According to the minister, the design for the school’s building is inspired by a special needs school in the United Kingdom that he would’ve had the opportunity of touring.

“Sister Lavina Liebert has a company who got those designs. In fact, I was fortunate enough to go to the United Kingdom and to meet one of the main consultants. Meeting with that design company, she designed a wonderful school in the United Kingdom — one of the best schools in the world for special educational needs and she gave me a personal tour of a school in the United Kingdom called Glenwood. And that was the consultant who worked with us,” Dr Wheatley stated.

He added: “Of course what we’re doing is on a much smaller scale than what they were doing at Glenwood but we use her expertise along with our local expertise in sister Lavina Liebert to be able to construct a beautiful design and we’re going to move from design to be able to mobilise the finances necessary.”

The minister said the project received financing through the Caribbean Development Bank and revealed that his government was working to secure further funds to allow for the construction of the school to commence.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×