The Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports will receive 11.34 percent or $53.38 million of the projected revenues of the 2024 budget.

Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley while delivering the 2024 Budget address during the Sixth Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly outlined the fiscal package totaling $382.67 million under the theme: Planning, Priorities and Progress: Building A Sustainable Nation, said Education is the bedrock of economic development.

Premier Wheatley said, “Recognising the transformative potential of education, especially in the realms of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (S.T.E.A.M.), in 2024 we will particularly focus on expanding the initiative with a focus on developing and implementing a comprehensive S.T.E.A.M-focused education programme for Pre-primary and Primary grades.”

The Premier added, “The physical environment in which education takes place plays a crucial role in shaping the learning experience. Therefore, we prioritise funding and support to implement a comprehensive school infrastructure maintenance plan.”

Premier Wheatley added that by improving the teaching and learning environment, the quality of education will be enhanced to create spaces that inspire curiosity, creativity, and academic excellence.

Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Honourable Sharie B. de Castro in a post statement on the budget address said, “The Ministry has committed through the funding allocated, to ensure that we create, new initiatives and programming, to be able to ultimately meet the needs of our future-which are our children.”

The Minister for Education added, “I look forward to seeing how the 2024 budget will impact the lives of our educators as well as our young people as we continue to move Virgin Islands Education Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead.”

The distributed allocated funds to the Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports in the 2024 budget is comprised of $50.53 million in recurrent expenditure and $2.85 million for development.

The 2023 Budget Address can be accessed on Facebook at username: @BVIGovernment or via the link https://www.facebook.com/BVIGovernment/videos/664365719224975.