Minister of Education Dr. the Honourable Ingrid Buffonge has assured the nation that schools across Montserrat are prepared for the new academic year.
All schools opened on September 7th for the 2026/2027 school year.
Addressing concerns about staffing, Dr. Buffonge said the Ministry is working to ensure adequate teacher coverage in all the schools.
She acknowledged that some teachers had not yet started, but said there are persons covering positions where permanent teachers are not yet in place.
Speaking to ZJB News she explained that “it is all really a work in progress. So obviously, there’s the physical plant of the schools. There’s some work that still needs to be done. Funding has been a problem. And then we’ve got to correlate the wish to do repairs with what is available in terms of support. So that side of it is a work in progress.
On the preparation for classes Dr. Buffonge stated that “yes, the schools are prepared. Do we have enough teachers? On the one hand, I could say, yes, we do. So in spaces where there isn’t a teacher permanently in a role, there is somebody covering. I know, just judging from yesterday, I was on the MSS compound, and there were some issues there which the principal is aware of and is on top of. So, a couple of teachers have not started yet.”
She said she was impressed with the keenness of the students, who “were telling me that, look, we need a teacher. We’re not sure about what’s going on here. One of the students, who was a male, was keenly standing outside a classroom wanting to get in to be taught. It wasn’t his classroom. He said, ma’am, I have exams next year. So what are you all going to do? So, I encourage him to continue to have a voice. I’ve contacted the parent. And I love to see that students are standing up for themselves. So, it is a work in progress, obviously.”
According to the education minister, to the best of her knowledge, the Ministry of Education “is working hard to make sure there’s adequate cover everywhere. But rest assured, the Ministry of Education is doing everything that it can to fill any gaps that are there.”
Dr. Buffonge said the Ministry is working alongside the Human Resources Management Unit to improve the recruitment processes.
However, she identified teacher salaries as one of the challenges affecting recruitment and retention.