Speaking as a telephone guest on the International Morning Braff show on Tola Radio VI this morning, February 10, 2023, Hon de Castro said the low salaries continue to be a major issue.

“The highest qualified teacher in the Virgin Islands is being paid $34k per year… we have to have a serious discussion the current scheme.”

Hon de Castro said even when teachers upgrade their qualifications with master’s degrees, the salary scale remains low.

“It has become extremely difficult worldwide for us to get teachers in classrooms, currently we do not have teachers and we are currently approaching the mid-term of the second term in the school year,” he said.

Cost of living skyrocketed - Teachers

VI teachers in a recent letter dated January 20, had complained that the cost of living has skyrocketed, yet salaries have not risen to match inflation. This according to the Minister is preventing the recruitment of new teachers as well as the retainment of current teachers in the system.

Hon de Castro added, “Currently we are received an unprecedented amount of resignations from teachers last year, and even now into February... we have received a significant number of resignations,” she added.

She said with the current salary conditions, regional teachers are also refusing to take up local jobs in the VI where salaries in neighboring countries including the USVI are higher with starting salaries to reach $50K from September 2023.